RIKERS ISLAND JAIL GUARD PLEADS GUILTY IN THEFT OF VALUABLE CITY OWNED ARTWORK DONATED BY SALVADOR DALI

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that New York City Correction Officer Timothy Pina has pled guilty to one count of Grand larceny in the 3rd degree for his role in the theft of valuable artwork that was donated to the City by Salvador Dali, the surrealist artist.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett set sentencing for Thursday, September 9, 2004 in Part M60. Under terms of the plea agreement, Pina will be sentenced to five years probation, and will resign from the New York City Department of Correction. Pina, a 45 year old Staten Island resident, has been a correction officer since December 8, 1988.

Pina admitted that he had “acted in concert” with others in stealing the valuable artwork which had been on display in a public area near the entrance of the Eric M. Taylor Detention Center at the City Jail on Rikers Island. The untitled Surrealist artwork had an appraised value of $250,000 and was discovered missing on March 1, 2003. A copy had been substituted for the original “Dali” which the artist had given to the Department of Correction in 1965 when illness prevented him from making a scheduled visit to Rikers Island.

The still missing stolen artwork is a gouache mixed media composition in India ink and pencil on board, depicting the crucifixion of Christ. It measures 59 x 39 ½ inches and is in a carved, stained, and glazed mahogany wood frame.

Mitchell Hochhauser, a former Assistant Deputy Warden, pled guilty in June 2003 to one count of Attempted Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree and is currently serving a term of up to three years in state prison for his role in the theft.

Another former Assistant Deputy Warden Benny Nuzzo was acquitted last June of all charges following a month long trial.

A fourth defendant, Correction Officer Gregory Sokol, 39, of Staten Island, is still awaiting trial.

The charges against all four Department of Correction employees were filled following a three and a half month joint investigation with the New York City Department of Investigation.

Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Donald Levin of the Investigations Division is prosecuting the case.