SEATTLE -- A man accused of selling an 18-karat gold bookmark that reportedly belonged to Adolf Hitler pleaded not guilty in federal court Thursday morning.

Christian Popescu, 37, a Romanian national in Kenmore, was arrested outside a Bellevue Starbucks after he set up a clandestine meeting to negotiate the sale of the stolen bookmark, Dankers said.

During his attempt to sell the bookmark, Popescu acknowledged that the bookmark was stolen in Spain and agreed to sell it for $100,000, Dankers said.

Eva Braun, Hitler’s longtime mistress, allegedly gave Hitler the gift in 1943.

ICE believes Braun gave Hitler the bookmark as consolation for his army’s defeat in the battle of Stalingrad, as it is inscribed in part with the following words from Braun: “My Adolf, don’t worry…(the defeat)… was only an inconvenience that will not break your certainty of victory.”

The bookmark was set to be auctioned in October 2002 by a Madrid, Spain, auction house when it was stolen by three eastern European thieves, Dankers said.

Popescu is charged with sale or receipt of stolen goods. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.