Fraudster Used Stolen Masterpieces To Spur Scheme: DOJ

BOSTON, MA — A West Virginia man trying to sell multi-million dollar paintings stolen in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum didn't even have access to or information about the paintings, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The mysterious quest for the world's most valuable stolen pieces of art continues.

Todd Andrew Desper, 47, who goes by "Mordokwan" on Craigslist, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Boston for his role in the fraud scheme. He is being charged with four counts of wire fraud and attempted wire fraud following his May 22 arrest. He remains out on pre-trial release.

Desper allegedly used his online pseudonym to try and solicit foreign buyers for two of the immensely valuable stolen pieces of art - Rembrandt's Christ In The Storm on the Sea of Galilee and Vermeer’s The Concert - through Craigslist. He contacted potential buyers in a number of foreign cities, including Venice and London, the Department of Justice said, then had potential buyers create an encrypted email account to communicate with him.

Authorities discovered Desper's listings thanks to people who are trying to help recover the artwork, some of whom are seeking out the $10 million reward offered by the museum. The initial reward of $5 million was doubled in May.

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Federal authorities had the Gardner Museum's security director engage in encrypted communications with Desper to see if he had access to the artwork. According to the Department of Justice, Desper told the security director to send a $5 million check to a location in West Virginia in exchange for Storm on the Sea of Galilee, which would be sent hidden behind another painting.

An investigation revealed Desper has no access or information about the stolen paintings, authorities said. He was instead allegedly engaging in a massive fraud scheme.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist is considered the largest art heist in history. Thirteen pieces were stolen in 1990. More than $500 million of art was taken. The new reward of $10 million - the largest private reward in the world - is good through the end of 2017.

The art was stolen in the early hours of March 18, 19

90. A pair of thieves disguised as Boston Police officers left with work including Veermer's The Concert, Rembrandt's Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee and A Lady and Gentleman in Black, Manet's Chez Tortoni, and Edgar Degas' Leaving the Paddock. Some are considered among the most valuable stolen items in the world.

Learn more about the theft here.

Anyone with information can call the museum at 617-278-5114 or email theft@gardnermuseum.org. Museum officials guarantee confidentiality.

Partial image of Chez Tortoni painting