Retired FBI Agent to Share Stories from Thrilling Career Solving Art Crimes Around the World at McFaddin-Ward House Lecture May 16
Beaumont, TX; Apr. 30, 2024 – Retired FBI agent, bestselling author, and one of the most famous art detectives in the world, Robert Wittman, will share tales from the trenches of his storied FBI career solving art crimes around the globe during “USA vs Art Thieves: True Tales from the FBI’s Real Indiana Jones,” a free public lecture presented by the McFaddin-Ward House on Thursday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Visitor Center Lecture Hall (located at 1906 Calder Avenue in Beaumont).
“I’ve recovered over $300 million worth of stolen art and cultural property from 20 different countries, and I’ll be highlighting two of those undercover cases in this talk.,” Wittman said. “I’ve got video from the actual case that I go through so people can live it with me. Every investigation was different.”
After joining the FBI as a Special Agent in 1988, Wittman received specialized training in art, antiques, jewelry, and gem identification, enabling him to serve as the FBI’s investigative expert involving cultural property crime. Wittman says he joined the Bureau because it “sounded like fun”.
“It was 1988, and I wanted to be Sonny Crockett from ‘Miami Vice’,” Wittman said. “I thought I’d be on a cigarette boat in Miami harbor wearing a white suit, and they sent me to Philadelphia.”
During his 20-year FBI career, Wittman has represented the United States throughout the world, conducting investigations, going undercover to catch criminals, and instructing international police and museums in recovery and use of high asset value security techniques. In 2005, he played an instrumental role in creating the FBI’s rapid deployment Art Crime Team, ultimately serving as the team’s senior investigator tasked with instructing the founding members in cultural property investigation techniques.
In 2010, Wittman penned his New York Times bestselling memoir “PRICELESS: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures”. He says he wrote the book because he wanted to get the word out about art theft and the importance of protecting these culturally significant objects.
“I wanted to raise priority on art theft and let the general public know how important our cultural property is and how we need to protect our heritage,” Wittman said.
McFaddin-Ward House lectures are free and open to the public, but space is limited. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Built in 1905-1906 in the distinctive Beaux-Arts Colonial style, the McFaddin-Ward House reflects the lifestyle of the prominent family which lived in the house for 75 years. The museum features free tours, educational programming, year-round events, a carriage house, and gardens.
For more information, call 409-832-2134 or visit mcfaddin-ward.org.
