Robert Donati Links
Robert Donati has a Woolworth Caper Alibi GARDNERHEIST.COM April 12, 2021
Late 80's photo of Donati (left) and 1961 mug shot of Donati favored by Gardner heist grifters (right)
Revere man [Donati] found slain in trunk of his car. Boston Globe September 25, 1991
Donati, meanwhile, was said to be making collections from bookmakers and loansharks on Ferrara's behalf.
Originally from East Boston, Donati had a lengthy criminal record involving arson, armed robberies and the theft of
securities from the Boston Stock Exchange.
Informant Issue [Robert Donati] Remains Unsettled Boston Globe Jun 24, 1997
"Anthony M. Cardinale, lawyer for indicted New England Mafia bosss, Francis P. "Cadillac Frank" Salemme and his associate and codefendant Robert Deluca,
said the defense had just learned that Donati may have been the unnamed informant who wore a hidden device to record conversations of convicted Mafia captain Vincent Ferrara."
Donati wasn't informer, court told
by Patricia Nealon Boston Globe Jun 21, 1997
Acting Deputy Attorney General Seth P.
Waxman -- who had been threatened with contempt and jail for twice refusing to disclose whether Robert Donati
was ever a government informant -- finally said yesterday that he was not.
In a two-paragraph affidavit filed yesterday afternoon in US District Court, Waxman said Donati was never an
informant for the FBI or any other Justice Department agency. Donati was murdered in 1991.
10 years later no sign of a real break in Gardner Musseum theft By Stephen Kurkjian
Boston Globe March 18, 2000
W. Thomas Cassano, the lead FBI agent on the case, said he
doubted that David Houghton and Robert Donati - two local, low-level hoodlums whose names surfaced during the
investigation - pulled off the heist.
Use of Bulger raises questions for FBI by Kevin Cullen Boston Globe June 8, 1997
Unlikely Suspect Connor Crony [David Houghton] Was No Art Expert, Others Say By Daniel
Golden and Ric Kahn Boston Globe September 23, 1997
:Youngworth and Ellis have identified another corpse with a criminal record as one of the Gardner thieves: Robert Donati of Revere, who was found stabbed to death in an automobile trunk in 1991.
But, according to sources, Houghton and Donati did not move in the same orbit. Donati was connected to organized crime hoods; Houghton spent his time toiling under car hoods.
The FBI says it has no evidence linking either Houghton or Donati to the crime. If Houghton and Donati knew each other at all, it was through their mutual friend: Connor.
$150,000 Bail for Trio (Robert Donati) In Fur Holdup Boston Globe April 13, 1965 "It was testified that shop foreman Arnold Green of Cambridge, Thomas Finn 55, of Canton, Ida Vogt 58, of Somerville, and Carl Huerth Edgehill Rd. Sharon were tied up by the fur gang."
State Court Upholds Radio Arrest Order Boston Globe May 11, 1968
Meet the suspects: Mobster Bobby Donati Boston Herald March 29, 2008
Robert Donati (two others) arrested for Medford Arson Boston Globe May 25, 1973;
Police observed two men leaving the shop, closed for the night and arrested them. Minutes later the shop burst into flames.
Unlikely Suspect Connor Crony [David Houghton] Was No Art Expert, Others Say By Daniel
Golden and Ric Kahn Boston Globe September 23, 1997
"The FBI says it has no evidence linking either Houghton or Donati to the [Gardner heist] crime."
Robert Donati, Two Other Deer Island Escapees Free Only 40 Minutes Boston Globe November 2, 1959;
Robert Donati sentenced for arson Bostn Globe May 22, 1974;
Everett Home Searched For Evidence of Gardner Museum Art Heist Everett Leader March 3, 2022
UNITED STATES v. IMBRUGLIA, (D.Mass. 1975) United States District Court, D. Massachusetts. Jul 30, 1975Imbruglia and Robert Donati sold additional stolen savings bonds to Searle at various times during September and October of 1973. At least some of the bonds had been stolen in New York. Donati also delivered samples of counterfeit money to Agent Searle during this same period. During Searle's first meeting with Donati, Donati told Searle, in the presence of Imbruglia, that they could sell him $500,000-$600,000 in stolen securities. Holdup Suspects Misparked Boston Globe April 13, 1965
Patrolman Bernard Kearney, who had found the getaway car illegallly parked, relayed its registration number to detectives. 3 Held [Donati] In $41,000 Holdup of Hub Furrier The Boston Globe April 28, 1965
Three men [Donati] sentenced to prison in arson at Medford firm. The Boston Globe May 23, 1974
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