Chesco DA: Arrest Made in 'Afghan Woman' Photo Theft

A York woman has been charged with taking more than $650,000 in stolen items from a renowned Chester County photographer, according to an announcement from District Attorney Tom Hogan.

Bree DeStephano, 32, of the 1900 block of West Market Street in York, has been charged for theft and related offenses. Hogan says DeStephano stole prints, books, and other items from Steve McCurry Studios in Exton and sold them for her own profit. The total value of the stolen items is $654,358.02.

The defendant was employed as the Manager of Fine Art Print Sales at the studio, owned by internationally renowned photographer Steve McCurry, known for taking the photo of the Afghan Girl featured on the cover of National Geographic.

According to Hogan, DeStephano stole various limited edition photograph prints from SMS between May 2012 and November 2013. The theft involved a conspiracy to dispose of the stolen prints between the defendant and Brandon Donahue, the manager of Open Shutter Gallery located in Durango, Colo. Donahue will be charged by authorities in Colorado.

The defendant allegedly stole 50 prints with a total value of $628,000. The defendant had prints shipped directly from SMS Long Island City Studio in New York to her at the Exton studio, according to the DA. These prints were then allegedly sold without authorization for her own financial gain. The defendant also altered SMS inventory records and print edition numbers, Hogan says.

The alleged stolen prints included the following: Afghan Girl, Vertical Dust Storm, The Blue City, and Bengali Woman and Child. The defendant also allegedly stole 233 Steve McCurry books of different titles and other items valued at $23,196.14. The defendant sold these items through various aliases on various websites, according to Hogan.

The defendant was arrested Tuesday and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge John R. Bailey. Bail was set at $250,000 unsecured.