Former Augusta National Worker Sentenced for Masters Memorabilia Theft
CHICAGO — A former warehouse employee of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia received a one-year prison sentence on Wednesday for the transportation of millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters Tournament merchandise. The stolen items included a signature green jacket belonging to golf legend Arnold Palmer.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Richard Globensky, 40, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of interstate transportation of stolen property. He appeared in U.S. federal court in Chicago for sentencing, accompanied by his family. Dressed in a suit, Globensky expressed remorse for his actions before Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman announced the sentence.
“I deeply regret the choices that have brought me to this point,” Globensky stated, his voice wavering. “I accept full responsibility and am dedicated to rectifying my mistakes to the best of my ability.”
Augusta National/Getty Images file
Globensky and his legal counsel declined to comment to reporters as they departed the courthouse.
Restitution and Supervised Release
In addition to the prison term, Globensky is ordered to pay over $3 million in restitution. He will also be subject to one year of supervised release following his incarceration.
Federal prosecutors had requested a 16-month sentence, while the defense argued for probation.
Details of the Scheme
According to prosecutors, Globensky pilfered items from the Augusta National warehouse for individuals in Florida. These individuals then resold the memorabilia online at inflated prices. Globensky received payments through various means, including a limited liability company established under his wife’s name. The illicit operation spanned more than a decade, yielding Globensky in excess of $5 million.
“This was a significant and prolonged breach of trust,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes emphasized in court.
Hayes acknowledged Globensky’s cooperation with the ongoing investigation, noting his provision of text messages exchanged with a third party, identified in court documents as “Individual A,” and an associate “Individual B.” The court also heard that Globensky voluntarily sold his residence and turned over the proceeds to the government.
Stolen Memorabilia and Recovery
The stolen goods, taken between 2009 and 2022, encompassed a range of historic Masters memorabilia. This included vintage tournament tickets from the 1930s, along with assorted merchandise like T-shirts, mugs, and chairs. Among the purloined green jackets were those awarded to legendary golfers Palmer, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen.
Some of the stolen merchandise was recovered within the Chicago region, leading to the case being heard at the downtown courthouse.
Modus Operandi
Globensky, employed at the warehouse since 2007, would secretly photograph items and transmit the images to a seller in Florida. He then discreetly removed items of interest, taking small quantities to evade Augusta National’s audit procedures, court documents revealed. The stolen items were stashed in an external storage facility before being shipped.
Lavish Spending
Prosecutors detailed how the illicit funds were used to finance an extravagant lifestyle. This included expenditures of $370,000 on vehicles and a boat, $160,000 on Disney-themed vacations, and $32,000 at luxury retailer Louis Vuitton, according to publicly available court records.
Defense Argument
Defense attorney Thomas Church argued in court that occasional removal of items by employees was not uncommon at the warehouse. He emphasized Globensky’s remorse and asserted he posed no threat to the public.
“This case does not involve forced entry or digital manipulation,” Church explained, suggesting his client exploited an opportunity to take items destined for disposal or deemed unsellable.
Financial Impact on Augusta National
Prosecutors stated the total financial loss to Augusta National exceeded $3 million.
Augusta National’s Response
An Augusta National spokesperson directed inquiries to a victim impact statement submitted to the court during the sentencing hearing.
“We were deeply disappointed to discover several years ago the betrayal of trust by a former Augusta National employee who stole from the Club, the Tournament, and revered figures in golf history,” Augusta National stated in the letter. “This individual prioritized personal enrichment without considering the consequences for the Club, players, the Tournament, and fellow employees.”
Masters Tournament and Green Jackets
Augusta National annually hosts the Masters golf tournament in April. Scottie Scheffler is the current Masters champion.
Arnold Palmer, who passed away in 2016, won four Masters green jackets and is credited with popularizing golf. He continued to perform the honorary opening tee shot at the Masters for years after his competitive playing days concluded in 2004.
Access to Masters tickets provides fans the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise not available online. Green jackets, however, remain highly protected by Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament organizers.
In 2017, Augusta National initiated legal action to prevent a golf memorabilia company from auctioning items, including a champion’s green jacket.
Augusta National Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against a Florida-based auction house in an effort to halt the sale of a champion’s green jacket, two member green jackets, and other items.