Damien Boland

Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry is taking the next step with the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership. The organizations will open a rural dentistry campus in downtown Tamaqua.

A federal judge sentenced Damien Boland to nine years in prison and ordered him to pay more than $2 million in restitution for his role in a 20-year theft ring that targeted 20 museums and other venues, mostly in the eastern United States but also as far away as North Dakota.

In a two-decade period, Thomas Trotta led a ring that targeted 20 museums and other venues, including the Everhart Museum and Lackawanna Historical Society in Scranton, the Country Club of Scranton in South Abington Twp. and Keystone College in LaPlume Twp.

After three days of deliberations, jurors convicted Joseph Atsus, Nicholas Dombek on most counts they faced and Damien Boland on all counts against him.

Deliberations scheduled to resume Thursday in the trial of accused theft ring members Nicholas Dombek, Damien Boland and Joseph and Alfred Atsus.

Closing arguments held Tuesday in federal art and memorabilia trial.

Dawn Trotta said Nicholas Dombek banged on her front door in September 2019, furious that her brother, Thomas, was cooperating with police in widespread thefts.

Lawyers for Nicholas Dombek, Damien Boland and brothers Joseph and Alfred Atsus portray Thomas Trotta as a liar, thief and exploiter of children.

Thomas Trotta also details Keystone College theft, his criminal background and his friendship with other accused ring members.

Trooper Kyle Hnat said he took care to corroborate statements that ring leader Thomas Trotta. Eventually, police dropped him as a confidential informant because he kept committing burglaries, testimony shows.