Book thief in plot that duped famous authors avoids prison
By MALLIKA SEN
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — It was the stuff of novels: For years, a con artist plagued the publishing industry, impersonating editors and agents to pull off hundreds of literary heists. But the manuscripts obtained from high-profile authors were never resold or leaked, rendering the thefts all the more perplexing. Thursday’s sentencing of Filippo Bernardini in Manhattan federal court brought the saga to an end and, with it, finally some answers. After pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud in January, Bernardini was sentenced to time served, avoiding prison. In a letter to the judge, Bernardini apologized and said he longed to feels part of the publishing world.
