NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION OFFICER CONVICTED OF PETIT LARCENY FOR HIS ROLE IN THE THEFT OF ARTWORK BY SALVADOR DALI

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today New York City Correction Officer Gregory Sokol has been convicted of petit larceny for his role in the theft of valuable artwork by the Surrealist painter Salvador Dali.

Sokol, 39, of Staten Island, pled guilty to a sole count of Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor offense, punishable by a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail. However as a result of his cooperation during the investigation of the theft, Sokol, will be sentenced to three years probation and fined one thousand dollars. Sokol also will have to resign his job with the New York City Department of Correction. Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett set sentencing for Monday, November 22, 2004 in Part M60.

Sokol is the third Department of Correction employee to be convicted in connection with the theft. A former Assistant Deputy Warden at the City jail on Rikers Island, Mitchell Hochhauser was convicted of Attempted Grand larceny in the 2nd degree and sentenced to a term of one to three years imprisonment. Former Correction Officer Timothy Pina was convicted of Grand larceny in the 3rd degree and sentenced to five years probation. A fourth suspect, former Assistant Deputy Warden Benny Nuzzo was acquitted in June 2003 following a month long trial.

The stolen artwork had been on display in a public area near the entrance of the Eric M. Taylor Detention Center on Rikers Island. The untitled work 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 donated to the Department of Correction in 1965 when illness prevented him from making a scheduled visit to Rikers Island.

The still missing 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.

The defendants were charged following a three and a half month joint investigation with the New York City Department of Investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Donald Levin of the Investigations Division.