Man Steals Thumb Of Ancient Statue At Franklin Institute: FBI

PHILADELPHIA – A Delaware man has been arrested and charged with various crimes by the FBI after allegedly breaking off and stealing a thumb of a more than 2,000-year-old statue in Philadelphia's Franklin Institute in December 2017.

Michael Rohana, 24, of Bear, Delaware, has been charged with theft of an object of cultural heritage from a museum, concealment of an object of cultural heritage stolen from a museum,and interstate transportation of stolen goods, according to FBI documents.

The statue, which is featured as part of the Franklin Institutes' temporary exhibit "Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor," dates back to 210 to 209 BCE and is valued at $4.5 million, according to the FBI.

Rohana, while attending a Franklin Institute after-hours "Ugly Sweater Party" event on Dec. 21, allegedly sneaked into the exhibit, which was closed at the time, and broke off the thumb of one of the statues, put it in his pocket, and took it back to Delaware, according to an affidavit filed against him.

The affidavit states on Dec. 22, Rohana sent a photo of the thumb to friends via Snapchat.

On Jan. 13, FBI agents interviewed Rohana who told them he had a finger from the exhibit and turned over the thumb to agents, according to the affidavit.

Rohana was released on bail this week.

Photo by Geoff Dempsey, Patch staff