Well, gather 'round, for the crazy tale of Frederick Doe, who tried to help a friend sell an 18-carat, fully functioning, 215-pound toilet, worth $6.4 Million Dollars!
The toilet was part of a satirical art installation, titled “America,” by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, and resided in Blenheim Palace, the country mansion where British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was born. It weighed over 215 pounds and valued at 2.8 million pounds. The toilet, has never been recovered and has been cut up and sold, as the group who smashed a window to get in and steal it have been charged and convicted.
James Sheen, pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy and transferring criminal property & Michael Jones, was convicted of burglary. Sheen approached Doe because he had contacts in jewelry. The Judge stated that Doe just,
"got caught up in something" he shouldn't have – a classic case of wrong place, wrong WhatsApp message saying he could "sell the gold in a second." Honestly, the real victim here is clearly Doe, who will no doubt "regret doing for James Sheen every day since your arrest" the Judge said.
Frederick was lucky that the judge was that forgiving, and gave him a suspended sentence, but his story is a cautionary tale. If someone comes to you with a 6 million dollar toilet to sell just say no.