[MSN] Forbes Smiley III. Map thief sought revenge, prosecutors say.

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Map thief sought revenge, prosecutors say
Newberry Library, others were victims
  
Associated Press

September 22, 2006

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A renowned dealer who admitted stealing nearly 100 rare
antique maps acted out of resentment toward the prestigious libraries and to
pay for his expensive tastes and mounting debts, prosecutors said Thursday.

Authorities filed court papers that offered the first official explanation
of why E. Forbes Smiley III stole the maps over eight years from the
Newberry Library in Chicago, New York and Boston public libraries, the
Harvard and Yale University libraries and the British Library in London.

"He explained that his initial thefts were acting out of resentment toward
persons at certain institutions that he believed had wronged him,
individuals who he believed had slighted him or used certain of his research
without accreditation," prosecutors wrote. "Other thefts he explained
resulted from some misguided sense of entitlement to the maps because he
had, through collectors, provided better versions of the same map to the
institution. He also acknowledged that stealing maps was profitable and he
had mounting debts."

An FBI review of Smiley's computer records showed he had expensive tastes
and rising debts, prosecutors said.

Smiley, 50, of Martha's Vineyard, faces restitution and up to 6 years in
prison under federal guidelines when he is sentenced Sept. 27. His attorney
has asked for a sentence of up to 3 years, citing Smiley's cooperation with
the investigation, charity work and unspecified "mental and emotional
conditions."