Illinois Man Properly Convicted for Role in Antique Theft Scheme

A jury properly convicted the manager of an Illinois-based Public Storage facility of wire fraud for participating in a scheme to steal and sell an oil painting, candlestick holders, and other items, the Seventh Circuit ruled Wednesday.

Brian Gustafson, who received a two-year prison sentence, could have reasonably foreseen that the antique purchasers would use wires to transfer money to his scheme partners, Judge Kenneth F. Ripple of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit said.

The use of wires is reasonably foreseeable where, as here, parties sell large quantities of highly valuable goods on the secondhand market ...