A U.S. court has sentenced a once-esteemed collector of presidential memorabilia to seven years in jail for stealing thousands of rare documents from archives and libraries nationwide, U.S. media reported.
Barry Landau, 64, was found guilty of stealing at least 4,000 documents worth over $1 million – including letters signed by George Washington, John Hancock, John Adams, Karl Marx, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte and Isaac Newton.
The stolen documents were recovered from Landau's Manhattan apartment.
He has admitted his guilt and was ordered to pay $46,000 in restitution, reports said.
Landau and his 25-year-old accomplice, Jason James Savedoff, who also pleaded guilty, were arrested after a historical society employee in Baltimore, Maryland, spotted Savedoff stealing a text from the city-based archive last summer.
No sentencing date has been set for Savedoff.
Prosecutors demanded that Landau be sentenced to nine years behind bars.
