Man questioned in art heist faces weapons charges

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A reputed Connecticut mobster suspected of having information related to the largest art theft in history has been arraigned on weapons charges.

Seventy-five-year-old Robert Gentile (JEN'-tile) of Manchester leaned on a cane Monday as he slowly rose before a judge in federal court in Hartford to plead not guilty to three charges.

The Manchester man has been detained since his February arrest on a charge of selling illegally obtained prescription painkillers.

Authorities believe Gentile "had some involvement in connection with stolen property" related to the unsolved 1990 heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Masterworks worth a half billion dollars were stolen.

Gentile's lawyer says he had nothing to do with the art theft. He said after the arraignment that prosecutors are "piling on" with the gun charges.

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