John Tillmann

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 1960s, Tillmann grew up in the affluent Halifax suburb of Fall River. He was a major political organizer for the Reform Party in the 1990s and was campaign manager for their party candidate in the federal riding of Halifax-West during the tumultuous Canadian election of 1993. At the time, Tillmann made national headlines for stating controversial views while strongly avowing White Nationalism.[13] As a university graduate majoring in international marketing, he traveled to Russia in the late 1990s and lived in the Izmaylovo District of north-east Moscow for several years. While there, he owned and operated street kiosks and learned to speak Russian.[14]

Katya Zhestokova at age 19, in partial disguise with hair dyed dark and with dark contact lenses in a passport photo

Tillmann married a Slavic Russian university student named Katya Anastasia Zhestokova, a native of Suzdal. 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.[15] It is reported that he and his Russian wife would sometimes even take time out to have sex during some of their more risky heists.[16] His team were regarded as criminal specialists, with Zhestokova acting as a distraction, her brother Vladimir being an expert in computer hacking and alarms disabling, with Tillmann being the mastermind and main organizer of the countless heists they performed. They employed various disguises which included impersonating maintenance personnel, staff, security and even police on at least one occasion. Known for possessing Machiavellian intelligence and ability to blend into his environment, Tillmann was also reputed to be an expert at sleight of hand techniques, which he taught himself as a youth and which enabled him to be able to often steal artwork while disappearing without a trace, not being observed by either staff or security cameras.[17] Tillmann's sister in an interview said, "The guy is a genius, that's the way he's always been ever since he was a child."[18] In November 2001, Tillmann incorporated a Canadian company called Prussia Import & Export Inc, which authorities believe he used to launder money that he and his wife earned from transactions in black market stolen artwork.[18]

Referred to as one of the most successful thieves in Canadian history,[19] Tillmann's case according to an American website is ranked as #6 out of the top 10 treasure hoards found in recent world history.[20] The Toronto Standard made comparisons of his real life capers to that of famous Hollywood heist film, Ocean's Eleven.[21]

Tillmann's case attracted considerable worldwide attention due to its scope and sheer numbers of stolen art objects. Even though Tillmann had cooperated with authorities while incarcerated, he steadfastly refused to disclose the identities of his wife and brother in-law and it has been reported that they have not been apprehended by western law enforcement, believed to be still living within the Russian Federation.[22][23][24]

Two special prosecutors were tasked with handling 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."[25]

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, On the Origin of Species. Valued at several hundred thousand dollars, the book was eventually tracked down by the FBI and U.S. Department 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

Tillmann's case is credited as being one of the biggest treasure hoards uncovered in modern history, being included in a list of the top ten daring art heists of the 20th century.[26]

The Canadian television program The Fifth Estate aired a documentary on Tillmann in April 2016[27] There is talk in some circles of a movie being produced about his story.[28] Referred to as a Canadian antiques smuggler by The Wall Street Journal,[29] lead police 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.[30][31] 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."[18]

Tillmann signed a book and movie deal with Nimbus, a Canadian publishing company with the book scheduled for release in September 2018.[32] However, in 2019 CTV News announced that Nimbus would not be publishing the book.[1]

Police and others have speculated that Tillman may have been able to successfully stash away large amounts of cash and artwork that has never been recovered.[33] Tillmann's name has surfaced with possible links to the unsolved 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, in Boston, which was the largest art heist ever.[34] He was flagged on worldwide museum security bulletins and was listed on the official website of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

He died on December 23, 2018. The cause of his death was not reported.[1]