Document Thief Pleads Guilty To Mail Fraud

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Daniel Witek, 54, of Buffalo NY, pleaded guilty to mail fraud before U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael DiGiacomo and Jonathan P. Cantil, who are handling the case, stated that in the spring of 2013, the defendant was a volunteer at the Buffalo History Museum. While volunteering at the museum, Witek devised a scheme to access and steal certain historical writings addressed to Anson Conger Goodyear that belonged to the museum. The defendant then offered to sell the stolen documents to one autograph dealer in New York City and one in New Jersey.  

The plea is the result of an investigation by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 8, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.