A Buffalo man has been sentenced for stealing historical documents from the Buffalo History Museum.
Authorities say Daniel Witek, 54, was a volunteer at the museum in the spring of 2013, when he stole historical writings addressed to Anson Conger Goodyear. Witek then offered to sell the stolen documents to autograph dealers in New York City and New Jersey.
Born in Buffalo, Goodyear was a businessman, military officer, postwar European relief executive and humanitarian, author, founder of the Museum of Modern Art and collector of modern paintings, rare books and historical manuscripts. The Goodyear family in America is traced back to Stephen Goodyear, a founder of New Haven, CT and deputy governor of Connecticut from 1643 to 1658.
His historical documents include family correspondence, diary and scrapbooks, speeches and writings, business papers and military-related correspondence.
Witek was convicted of mail fraud, sentenced to six months time served and ordered to pay $2,100 in restitution.
