Former Augusta National Employee Admits Stealing Masters Merchandise
Former Augusta National employee Richard Brendan Globensky of Augusta pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Chicago today to a federal charge of stealing millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia over a 13-year period while he was employed there.
Globensky pleaded guilty to a federal charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. If convicted, he could spend up to 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman set sentencing for October 29, 2024 at 1:30pm.
Globensky Admitted Selling Stolen Merchandise to Online Brokers
Former Augusta National employee Richard Globensky worked as a warehouse assistant at Augusta National Golf Club when he admitted stealing the Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia from 2009 to 2022. Court documents say he oversaw the receipt and storage of Masters Tournament merchandise at Augusta National Golf Club and maintained records used to conduct the post-Masters Tournament merchandise audit.
“Globensky stole the merchandise from the ANGC warehouse by loading it into a truck and transporting the merchandise to an offsite storage facility that he maintained in Augusta,” according to court documents.
The Stolen Goods Included:
- Ben Hogan’s Masters Tournament Green Jacket
- Gene Sarazen’s Masters Tournament Green Jacket
- Masters Tournament programs from 1934 and 1935
- An Augusta National clubhouse trophy
- Masters Tournament tickets from 1934-1939
- Augusta National Golf Club pickard porcelain bowl
- Masters Tournament records from 1942
- 2009 Masters commemorative putter
- Documents and letters written and signed by Bobby Jones
- An Augusta National stock book
- Augusta unissued share of stock from 1932 hand signed by Fielding Wallace
- Various Masters’ Tournament and Augusta National members gifts from 1964-2007.
What the Plea Agreement Says
Globensky sold the merchandise to the online broker in Florida for a total of approximately $5.3 million. He sold the memorabilia to the same broker, as well as to the broker’s associate for nearly $300,000.
The brokers later re-sold the stolen merchandise and memorabilia, often at significant markups from the amounts paid to Globensky. At least one of the stolen items was purchased by a collector in Chicago.
In addition to a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, the offense also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from that offense, whichever is greater. The judge could also impose a term of supervised release of not more than three years. Globensky was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of the offense in an amount to be determined by the Court.