Caliban Book Shop co-owner John Schulman, right, arrives with his attorney Robert Del Greco Jr., for his arraignment at City Court on Friday July 20, 2018 in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Judge forbids profits but lets Caliban Book Shop owner, charged in Carnegie Library theft, pay store's bills

An Allegheny County prosecutor on Thursday argued to a judge that Caliban Book Shop in Oakland ought to be shut down so that its owner, charged with participating in a conspiracy to steal hundreds of rare books, maps and plates from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and then selling them through his store and warehouse, cannot profit from his crime.

“It essentially was a criminal enterprise that allowed this crime to happen,” said Assistant District Attorney Aaron McKendry.

He asked Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning to keep two business bank accounts, operated by Caliban co-owner John Schulman, frozen, which could effectively shut down the store.

The DA’s office froze the accounts last month while the case against Mr. Schulman proceeds, prompting his attorneys to try to have the order vacated.

The judge Thursday found the prosecution’s request too burdensome and instead said the shop can continue to operate.

Judge Manning ruled that Mr. Schulman can have access to the accounts to ensure that his employees and the store’s utilities and rent are paid. Neither Mr. Schulman nor his wife, co-owner Emily Hetzel, however, can receive money from them, Judge Manning said.

“No one is permitted to make a profit,” the judge said.

Attorneys fees may also be released from the account.

Mr. Schulman, 54, of Squirrel Hill, is charged in the case along with Greg Priore, 61, of Oakland. Mr. Priore worked as the sole archivist and manager of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s rare book room.

Investigators with the district attorney’s office said that Mr. Priore would remove items from the Oliver Room and give them to Mr. Schulman, who would then sell them online and at book fairs.

The criminal complaint in the case said that the scheme began in the late 1990s and continued until December 2016. It is estimated that more than 300 items valued at $8 million were removed from the library.

About $1.1 million worth of the missing items have been recovered.

A preliminary hearing is expected in the case for Oct. 12.

During his argument, Mr. McKendry said the investigation into the thefts and sales is ongoing.

“The very employees we’re talking about worked in the warehouse. These are not innocent people,” he said. “These are people working for a criminal enterprise.

“Mr. Schulman corrupted his own business.”

But Albert Veverka, an attorney for Mr. Schulman, countered that no allegations have been brought against any employees, and further, that Caliban sold other items in its store and warehouse unrelated to the library thefts.

“To punish all of these people for the entirety of his business for what may be a small part is unfair,” the defense attorney said. “These are mere allegations, your honor. There’s been no proof.”

Mr. McKendry countered, “This business gets to profit after they’ve robbed part of our cultural heritage. I don’t think the book shop’s loss compares to that loss to society.”

Paula Reed Ward: pward@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2620 or on Twitter: u/PaulaReedWard.

First Published August 2, 2018, 2:07pm