# My co-worker might be involved in art smuggling - what should I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269 "2013-06-30T15:46:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/21 "2013-07-01T12:38:56Z")
Are you sure they **aren’t** broken beyond having value? Why not mail an anonymous letter to the artist? He’s not the cops, and probably can’t/won’t bother looking for you. Include the address of your chum’s garage. Then wait and see. You should be able to tell whether Jo Jo’s story is bullshit, based on any action, or lack thereof, by the artist. Either way, he knows, and can react as he chooses without the police involved, unless that is what he wishes. Very interesting story, I hope you keep us updated! ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/22 "2013-07-01T12:49:05Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > In case you didn’t know, this board often comes up high on a list of Google results. I’m not sure asking for advice here was a good idea. > > That’s the worst name I ever heard. As long as nobody chooses to be an asshole, there are currently no search terms in this thread (that I’m aware of, anyway) that would particularly tend to lead anyone here. If someone just can’t resist dropping such keywords, if they want to be considerate, they could use various methods to thoroughly obfuscate any keywords from search engines. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/23 "2013-07-01T13:09:00Z")
I would Axle Foley it. “La la la la! I’m not listening to Jeffery!” It seems you feel like you are in a moral dilemma. Ask yourself what you would want the eventual outcome to be for all involved, and what you are willing to sacrifice to get there. If the payment (sacrifice) is not enough to cover the outcome, or too high for your comfort, then you might need to re-evaluate your interest in this. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/24 "2013-07-01T13:09:09Z")
I also have a strong suspicion of the artist in question. Definitely a unique situation as this artist normally directs operations rather than working hands-on. Until an item produced by his team is signed by the artist, is it worth anything? Until then, it’s just something from their studio. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/25 "2013-07-01T13:15:18Z")
I think an explanation just as likely as the broken sculpture scam is available in a recent FBI press release from the area. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/26 "2013-07-01T15:45:47Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > overheard a conversation Any chance they were fucking with you? I have spun some pretty crazy yarns when I’ve suspected someone nearby was eavesdropping. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/27 "2013-07-01T16:04:51Z")
It’s also possibly the artist is sufficiently cataloging his works such that these stolen things will not have the value the thief imagines. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/28 "2013-07-01T16:09:59Z")
If you want to turn this into a thriller that you can later sell to a publisher… it’s blackmail time for Joey. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/29 "2013-07-01T16:25:39Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Any chance they were fucking with you? I have spun some pretty crazy yarns when I’ve suspected someone nearby was eavesdropping. That’s my thought too. Especially the drug dealer part. Not too many drug dealers that operate on anything except a cash on delivery basis. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/30 "2013-07-01T16:36:37Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > That’s my thought too. Especially the drug dealer part. Not too many drug dealers that operate on anything except a cash on delivery basis. Yeah, especially the idea that he’s willing to delay payment indefinitely – that is, until the artist dies. ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/31 "2013-07-01T16:50:20Z")
Wasn’t this the plot of an episode of White Collar? ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/32 "2013-07-02T04:30:03Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > As long as nobody chooses to be an asshole, there are currently no search terms in this thread (that I’m aware of, anyway) that would particularly tend to lead anyone here. If someone just can’t resist dropping such keywords, if they want to be considerate, they could use various methods to thoroughly obfuscate any keywords from search engines. A search for ‘stolen sculpture traded for pills’ ranks this thread third in the list of results. I don’t think anyone needs to be an asshole, it is extremely easy to find based purely on the text in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/33 "2013-07-02T04:42:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Joey is a good guy. I strongly disagree with this statement. I’m very puzzled how the artist would not control his “inventory”. Even the “broken” works. Joey is aiding a drug dealer who probably isn’t just selling to this one person. Joey has received stolen goods. I doubt that after the artists death they will be able to clean up like they think. They won’t be able to prove these are indeed the works of the artist. A broken work that “may be” by that artist, well, doesn’t seem like they’d get a lot. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/34 "2013-07-02T08:16:53Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > A search for ‘stolen sculpture traded for pills’ ranks this thread third in the list of results. I don’t think anyone needs to be an asshole, it is extremely easy to find based purely on the text in the OP. Who do you imagine would perform such a search? Someone who knew/cared enough to enter those terms would already know more than (or equal to) what’s revealed in this thread. The concern was that the artist’s name or other specific keywords would lead people here who _didn’t_ already know what was going on. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/35 "2013-07-02T09:07:10Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Who do you imagine would perform such a search? Someone who knew/cared enough to enter those terms would already know more than (or equal to) what’s revealed in this thread. The concern was that the artist’s name or other specific keywords would lead people here who _didn’t_ already know what was going on. That might have been your concern but not the one being discussed in the thread. > [@Crazyhorse](#): > > An angry drug dealer or investigating detective can likely identify both the artist and you easily. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/36 "2013-07-02T11:27:56Z")
You aren’t exactly dealing with Thomas Crown here. I suspect it’s more likely these pill poppers are collecting a bunch of busted junk with vague delusions of somehow cashing in on it. > [@Bozuit](#): > > That’s the worst name I ever heard. Hey!! Joey Jo Jo!! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/37 "2013-07-02T11:44:22Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > If it’s who I’m thinking, they are not guaranteed a payday any time soon. If it’s who I’m thinking of, he’s getting on a bit and payday, such as it is, may only be a few years away. While I’m tempted to suggest an anonymous letter to the artist, in truth I suspect that they’ll get their comeuppance when the lack of provenance reduces the value of the work to a fraction of its perceived value. Or you could send a soprano around to Joey’s garage and tell her to let rip. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/38 "2013-07-02T12:22:00Z")
So, these sculptures, are they made from _severely_ heat-affected sand, as it were? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/39 "2013-07-02T12:31:26Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > So, these sculptures, are they made from _severely_ heat-affected sand, as it were? 😃 great minds. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269/40 "2013-07-02T13:06:53Z")
I’m positive I know who you mean (his name sounds like a sneeze). I would contact the artist directly, or his people anyway as I doubt you’d be able to get direct access to him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-co-worker-might-be-involved-in-art-smuggling-what-should-i-do/662269.md?page=3)