William C. Reed III, Art Theft, Rock Hall MD, 2014

William C. Reed III, a 42-year-old man from Rock Hall, Maryland, admitted today to stealing more than 40 works of fine art from his employer and hauling them across state lines to sell for profit. The thefts, which occurred between June and November 2014, targeted a private collector who trusted Reed as a caretaker—only to discover dozens of valuable paintings, sculptures, and etchings had vanished.

Reed pleaded guilty in Camden federal court before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. No plea deal details were disclosed, but sentencing is set for Feb. 3, 2017.

According to court documents, Reed exploited his role as caretaker for an art-collecting client in Rock Hall, Md., beginning in June 2013. Over time, he pilfered pieces from the collection—works by American and European artists—then sold them at a pawn shop in Salem, New Jersey, and to a buyer in Chestertown, Maryland. The thefts went unnoticed until the victim began auditing the collection.

The FBI’s Art Crime Team, under Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster in Philadelphia, led the investigation. Agents traced several pieces through receipts, buyer records, and forensic documentation. U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited the probe’s success to meticulous cross-jurisdictional coordination, including support from the Rock Hall Police Department and Chief Steven W. Moore.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson is prosecuting the case for the government. Reed was represented by defense attorney Lisa Lewis, Esq., of Camden, who did not comment following the hearing. Authorities have not released the total appraised value of the stolen works, but investigators believe some pieces were rare and privately insured.

The case underscores the vulnerability of private art collections to insider theft and the growing reach of federal art crime units. With Reed’s guilty plea, the DOJ sends a message: stolen art may change hands in backroom deals, but the trail always leads to federal court.

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