John Tillmann (art thief)

Tillmann in 2016 shortly after release from a Canadian minimum security prison.

Katya Zhestokova at age 19. Russian Cossack wife to John Tillmann, shown in partial disguise with hair dyed dark along with dark contact lenses in a passport photo.

John Mark Tillmann is a notorious Canadian art thief who for over two decades, heisted over 10,000 art objects from museums, galleries, archives and antique shops from various countries across the world. Eluding authorities for years by flying under the radar, Tillmann was eventually arrested in January 2013, after extensive investigations by Interpol, The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, The United States Department of Homeland Security, FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.^{[1] [2] [3]} Seizing over 3,000 artifacts from his home in the first week,^[4] police finally closed the file nearly 3 years later when returning over 10,000 exhibits to their respective owners, which included a 250-year-old George Washington spy letter, valued at about a million dollars.^{[5] [6]} A few weeks following the sensational bust, police simply ran out of room within their own storage facilities to house the enormous amount of artifacts which were being uncovered. A special climate controlled and secretly located warehouse, was then rented out by authorities to store Tillmann's looted artwork for the next three years.

Tillmann was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Canadian Court on September 25, 2013,^[7] and the court seized over two million dollars of his assets under the proceeds of crime legislation. Tillmann was released on parole, serving just slightly over two years of his sentence in November 2015.^[1][8]

John Tillmann in Russia 1998

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia during the 1960s and university educated, he traveled to Russia in the late 1990s living in Moscow for several years and learned to speak the language.^[9] Later marrying a Slavic Russian woman named Katya Anastasia Zhestokova, they acted together in museum heists much like a Bonnie and Clyde type couple and later incorporated her brother Vladimir to the team, where they traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East and North and South America.^[10] It is reported that he and his Russian wife would often take time out to have sex during some of their more risky heists,^[11] and his team were renowned for employing various disguises which included impersonating maintenance personnel, staff, and security. Tillmann was known for the ability to blend into his environment and was reputed to be an expert at sleight of hand techniques, which he taught himself as a youth and was known to be able to often steal artwork and then disappear without a trace, not being seen by either staff or security cameras.^[12] Said to be an abstract thinker with a high level IQ, Tillmann's sister in an interview with Canada's Macleans Magazine was quoted as saying; “The guy is a genius, that’s the way he’s always been ever since he was a child. In November of 2001, Tillmann incorporated a Canadian company known as Prussia Import & Export Inc, which authorities believed was utilized in laundering large amounts of money that he and his wife were earning from numerous transactions in black market stolen artwork.^[13]

Referred to as one of the most successful thieves in Canadian history,^[14] Tillmann's case according to an American website is ranked as #6 out of the top 10 treasure hoards found in recent world history.^[15] The Toronto Standard media outlet, made comparisons of his real life capers to that of famous Hollywood heist movie, Ocean's Eleven. ^[16]

Tillmann's case attracted considerable worldwide attention due to its scope and sheer numbers of stolen art objects. Tillmann refused to disclose the identities of his wife and brother in-law to authorities and it has been reported that they have not been apprehended by western law enforcement, believed to be still living within the Russian Federation.^[17][18][19]

The Canadian documentary television program The Fifth Estate, aired an interview with Tillmann in April of 2016^[20] and there is talk in some circles of a movie being produced about his story.^[21] Referred to as a Canadian antiques smuggler by the Wall Street Journal,^[22] lead RCMP investigator for the case was quoted as saying; "Stealing was how he got his thrills. He was a master of manipulation and I'm sure there will be movies made about this one day." He also referred to Tillmann as being smart, well dressed, very cocky and that his saga of theft and deception was truly remarkable.^[23][24] A museum and artifact shop owner in Eastern Canada who knew Tillmann personally for over 15 years, commented on his distinctive style: "He was sophisticated, wore designer labels. I called him 'Mr. GQ.'" ^[25]

Two special crown prosecutors handled the huge and complex legal case, with one of them remarking of Tillmann; "He was clearly intelligent enough to amass a false empire over years and it's a shame ultimately for him and for society that he didn't use that to different ends."^[26]

One item in particular that Tillmann had heisted from a Canadian institution, was one of the most valuable books ever printed, a hundred and fifty year old first edition copy of Charles Darwin's epic book, The Origin of Species. Valued at several hundred thousand dollars, the book was eventually tracked down by the FBI and U.S. Dept of Homeland Security and was returned to the Canadian government in a special ceremony at the Canadian Consulate in New York City in October 2015. John F. Prato, consul general of Canada in New York, praised RCMP and Homeland Security officers for their professionalism and co-operation throughout the Tillmann case. He remarked at the ceremony; "No two countries in the world have the relationship Canada and the U.S. have and today we honour two incredible law enforcement groups that worked hard and in partnership to recover this essential piece of history."

The couple celebrating at a Moscow Opera House in the summer of 2001 after a successful mummy heist in Egypt.

Police and others have speculated that the famous art thief may have been able to successfully stash away large amounts of cash and artwork that has never been recovered.^[27] Tillmann's name has surfaced with possible links to the unsolved Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist in Boston back in 1990, which was the largest art heist ever. He is presently flagged on worldwide museum security bulletins and is listed on the official website of the United States Department of Homeland Security and is currently living on a small island off the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada.^[28]

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