Art Smuggling Probe Spreads to Chicago

CHICAGO—A federal investigation into an alleged Asian antiquities smuggling ring that had agents raiding Southern California museums last week has also hit Chicago, with the investigation of Barry MacLean, the owner of a private museum and a trustee of the Art Institute of Chicago. According to the Los Angeles Times, the new developments suggest the network of alleged illegal art dealers extends far beyond California. The affidavit does not refer to MacLean by name but suggests that "Individual A" relied on the help of "Individual B" (thought to be Robert Olson, an alleged smuggler of looted Thai, Asian, and Native American artifacts), to build his extensive and well-known art collection. Olson told the Times that MacLean was his biggest client, but he denied any illegal doings. "I think everything he bought was legal," said Olson, 79. "The people I got it from weren't doing the digging, they were buying from the diggers."