Federal Agents Raid Home of Gallery Owner in 1.6m Art Scheme

Photo Images: The Grand Tetons and Snake River by Ansel Adams

With guns drawn, Federal Agents entered the home of Wendy Beard owner of Wendy Halstead Gallery in Birmingham, Michigan this week and arrested her.

Beard is accused of defrauding her elderly, affluent clients by selling their art photographs (by Ansel Adams and others) and never telling them for a combined total of over $1.6 million. One victim was an 89 year old client with Alzheimers. There are likely many more victims.

When clients tried contacting Beard, she sent emails to them from fake accounts that appeared to be from her employees claiming she was in poor health, on a transplant list, had a double lung transplant, and was in a coma.

Beard is charged with mail fraud and wire fraud. She was released on bond and is due back in court next month