Photo: John Minchillo/AP Photo
Three men including the curator of theRock & Roll Hall of Famehave been accused of conspiring to sell stolen lyrics from the Eagles.
The allegedly stolen pages featured over 100 pages of Henley’s handwritten notes that included lyrics from the rock band’s hits “Hotel California” and “Life in the Fast Lane,” according toRolling Stone. New York officials estimate the documents are worth more than $1 million.
The Eagles frontman, upon learning that Inciardi and Kosinki were making efforts to sell the long-lost documents to auction houses, tried to get them back, thePostreported — telling the men they were stolen and even taking out police reports. But according to the indictment, the men allegedly tried to “coerce” Henley into buying back his property.
“They made up stories about the origin of the documents and their right to possess them so they could turn a profit,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. said according to the AP, who also reported that the indictment stated that Kosinski sold some “Hotel California” lyric sheets to Henley for $8,500.
RB/Redferns
The writer, according to thePost, has changed his story many times about how he acquired the papers. In 2012 he recalled “finding the material discarded in a dressing room backstage at an Eagles concert,” but later said Henley’s assistant sent them to him after a stay at the musician’s Malibu home. His story changed again in 2016, when he said Eagles frontman Glenn Frey gave him the papers. (Freydied in January 2016, which prosecutors have noted convenient to the writer’s story as the singer cannot dispute his account.)
The DA’s office began their investigation in 2016, accordingto thePostand “beginning in December 2016, began executing search warrants to retrieve the materials.”
The three men were charged with one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree, which carries up to a four-year prison sentence, and first degree counts of criminal possession,Rolling Stonereported. Horowitz also faces two additional counts of hindering prosecution.
All three pled not guilty, thePostreported. They were released without bail.
Antonia Apps, who represents Kosinski, claims her client is innocent. “Despite six years of investigating the case, the DA hasn’t included a single factual allegation in the indictment showing that my client did anything wrong,” she said in a statement to AP, calling the charges “the weakest criminal case I have seen in my entire career.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame told PEOPLE Inciardi has been suspended from his role at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“We have learned that a New York County grand jury has indicted a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame employee with curator responsibilities, Craig Inciardi. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is not named in the indictment nor does the alleged conduct involve the RockHall’s business, collection, or archives,” they said in a statement.
“When we became aware of this matter, we suspended the employee and retained experienced outside counsel to conduct an internal investigation. We take very seriously the responsibility to protect the integrity of our collection and the artists it represents and maintain consistent and stringent controls. We do not tolerate conduct that compromises the integrity of our collection or our institution. The employee remains on leave pending resolution of our investigation. As this is an ongoing matter not involving the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, we will have no further comment.”
Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
Irving Azoff, manager for the band, said they are pleased with the indictments in a statement toPEOPLE. “This action exposes the truth about music memorabilia sales of highly personal, stolen items hidden behind a facade of legitimacy. No one has the right to sell illegally obtained property or profit from the outright theft of irreplaceable pieces of musical history,” he said.
“These handwritten lyrics are an integral part of the legacy Don Henley has created over the course of his 50-plus-year career,” he added. “We look forward to the return of Don’s property, for him and his family to enjoy and preserve for posterity.”
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Manhattan District Attorney Bragg, Jr. also released astatementon the case. “New York is a world-class hub for art and culture, and those who deal cultural artifacts must scrupulously follow the law. There is no room for those who would seek to ignore the basic expectations of fair dealing and undermine the public’s confidence and trust in our cultural trade for their own ends,” said Bragg.
“These defendants attempted to keep and sell these unique and valuable manuscripts, despite knowing they had no right to do so. They made up stories about the origin of the documents and their right to possess them so they could turn a profit.”
source: people.com
