Tillmann had an extensive criminal record for obscene telephone calls, shoplifting, threats, and assaults, but his antique thefts eluded authorities for years.

[7] Police closed the file nearly three years later; returning over 10,000 exhibits to their respective owners, including a 250-year-old George Washington spy letter valued at about a million dollars.

One of several private historical experts brought in by police to assist in the investigation remarked to the Toronto Star newspaper: "It was incredible...to lay it all out would have taken an airplane hangar.

as criminal specialists, with Kuzina acting as a distraction, her brother Vladimir being an expert in computer hacking and alarm disabling, and Tillmann operating as the mastermind and main organizer of the countless heists they performed.

"[19] 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.

[19] Referred to as one of the most successful thieves in Canadian history,[20] The Toronto Standard made comparisons of his real-life capers to that of the famous Hollywood heist film Ocean's Eleven.

[22] 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 a society that he didn't use that to different ends.

John F. Prato, consul general of Canada in New York, praised RCMP and Homeland Security officers for their professionalism and cooperation 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 honor two incredible law enforcement groups that worked hard and in partnership to recover this essential piece of history."

[1] Following his passing, numerous people who had previously interacted with Tillmann spoke to press outlets about his history of violence, intimidation, and abuse that particularly targeted women, Jews and other minority groups, and police.

She alleged that following their breakup, Tillmann entered her apartment building, assaulted her, forced her into the car with her child, and made her withdraw money from ATMs to give to him.