Alleged art thief pleads guilty to stealing snuff bottles from museum

More than two years after the FBI sting operation at the University art museum that led to his apprehension, Roland Yazhari plead guilty Nov. 2 to stealing two Chinese snuff bottles from the museum in 1994 and attempting to steal a third in June 1998, according to Trish Hunt, the deputy clerk of the U.S. District Court in Portland, Ore.

Yazhari then allegedly sold the snuff bottles at an auction in Hong Kong, University spokeswoman Marilyn Marks said. One sold for $60,000 and the other for $65,000, she said.

In June 1998, Yazhari allegedly returned to the museum. "When [art museum employees] became aware of that, they cooperated with the FBI in waiting for him to make his move. And, he did," Marks said. Yazhari was then allegedly caught stealing a third Chinese snuff bottle, according to Marks.

The stolen bottles were first discovered missing Aug. 14, 1997, Marks said. Before that, the snuff bottle collection was last inventoried in 1993, at which time all bottles were accounted for.

When Public Safety was informed that the two snuff bottles were missing, proctors turned the case over to Borough Police, who investigated the case in conjunction with the FBI, Marks said.

Yazhari was arrested in Portland by the FBI on Dec. 15, 1998, according to Barry Sheldahl, an assistant U.S. attorney in Portland.

Sheldahl said Yazhari was in Portland selling snuff bottles, at least some of which were not stolen.

The FBI tracked down Yazhari through two auction houses in Hong Kong — Christie's and Sotheby's — where the two stolen bottles were sold. The FBI arrested Yazhari by posing undercover as purchasers of Yazhari's snuff bottles.

Yazhari was charged with three counts of theft or receipt of stolen artwork by a federal grand jury, according to Portland court records.

His sentencing date is Jan. 8.

"Each count of the three carries up to 10 years in prison. So he's facing up to 30 years in prison," Sheldahl said, adding that Yazhari would most likely not receive the maximum sentence.

For this type of crime, the sentence is based on the dollar amount of property loss — Yazhari agreed to pay $170,000 in restitution.

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Because Yazhari committed a federal offense, the court proceedings have not involved University attorneys, said Lorraine Sciarra, assistant secretary at the University general counsel's office.

At the time they were stolen, the snuff bottles were not being publicly displayed. To see them, visitors had to make an appointment, said museum registrar Maureen McCormick. "There is security in place whenever we have visitors in our storage areas."

Police believe Yazhari did make an appointment and then stole the items.

The two snuff bottles stolen in 1994 had imperial seals and were painted with enamel on metal, making them especially profitable at auctions, McCormick said.

All the stolen bottles have since been recovered by law enforcement officials and returned to the museum.

Cary Liu, associate curator for Asian art, said, "They're wonderful collectables because they're so small. They fit in the palm of your hand."

Liu said snuff bottles like the ones stolen were made in the 17th and 18th centuries under the Qing dynasty. Each is worth between $200 and $200,000, and some are made of jade, ivory and other stones.

The University museum's Chinese snuff bottle collection was donated to the museum by Col. James Blaire in 1936. Blaire's lawyer was a Princeton alumnus, McCormick said.

There are currently about 50 snuff bottles on display now, with the rest in storage.