About Us

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Our Vision

We believe that cultural heritage is the legacy of humankind and should be protected and preserved for future generations. Looting, theft, fraud and trafficking of cultural heritage are serious crimes resulting in risk to the art market, criminal profits, and, more importantly oftentimes harm to indigenous communities. The persistent understaffing of competent cultural property crime units in law enforcement and cultural heritage agencies worldwide continues to lead to the victimization of those who seek to preserve cultural heritage and value what it offers to the world.

Our team comprises some of the most well-known names in the cultural heritage protection world with decades of experience and unparalleled expertise in this area. As such, we are uniquely suited to deliver the broadest range of services in the industry. The art and cultural heritage landscape is nuanced and complex. Let our skilled team help you navigate the challenges.

Value We Bring

Experience

230 years of combined experience in local, state and federal law enforcement, government and security sectors–with nearly half of that time dedicated to cultural property protection.

Proven Results

Responsible for recovering more than 16,000 stolen, looted, or fake works of art and other cultural heritage, with an estimated market value over $500 million, we know how to get things done.

Diverse Talent

Our deep bench of talent means we can manage all your needs, navigating complexities with a comprehensive and adaptable approach.

Trust

We operate with discretion and tailor our services to the client’s particular needs. You can trust us to manage, secure and recover your collections.


Our Team

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Tim Carpenter

Founder and Managing Director

Former head of the world-renowned FBI Art Crime Team, Tim has led some of the most important recoveries of cultural property in FBI history.

Retired Supervisory Special Agent and former head of the FBI’s elite Art Crime Team, Tim Carpenter has been a key figure in the U.S. Government’s efforts to combat cultural heritage crimes for well more than a decade. During his career, he was responsible for overseeing some of the most challenging and successful cultural property crime matters in U.S. history and was the lead investigator for the largest single recovery of looted cultural property in the history of the FBI. With 26 years of experience in local and federal law enforcement, including 16 years working art crime matters, Carpenter led innovation throughout the art crime community and has a reputation for getting things done.

Tim has dedicated himself to the protection of the world’s cultural heritage and the preservation of dignity for affected communities. At the core of his professional philosophy lies a strong belief that teamwork leads to success. His focus on building strong partnerships was crucial to the success of every project that he took on. That’s why he has assembled the best team in the business here at Argus to help our clients with whatever cultural heritage protection needs they might have.

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Geoffrey Kelly

Partner

As one of the original members of the FBI’s Art Crime Team, Geoff has vast experience managing high-profile cultural property investigations.

With more than thirty years of federal and state law enforcement experience, Geoff Kelly brings a perspective and skillset ideally suited to Argus CPC. As one of the original members of the FBI’s Art Crime Team, Geoff managed numerous high-profile investigations, utilizing sophisticated techniques, veteran interviewing skills, and good old-fashioned detective work.

Geoff has recovered more than $100 million in stolen artwork and cultural property; items as diverse as rare books, fine art, Native American artifacts, looted treasures – even Tom Brady’s stolen Super Bowl jerseys. An internationally recognized expert in the field of fine art and antiquities theft, Geoff has traveled the world, training domestic and international agencies and institutions on proven methods and best practices to deter art and cultural property theft.

Geoff has a proven track record of solving difficult cases, making him one of the most respected investigators in the field.  In addition to identifying the perpetrators of the 1990 robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, he also solved the nation’s largest residential art burglary, ensuring the recovery of the lost artwork and conviction of the thief.  

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Catherine P. Foster, Ph.D.

Partner

Catherine has led projects with the United States and foreign governments, museums, international orgs, and NGOs to protect cultural heritage.

Dr. Catherine P. Foster is a foreign affairs expert, archaeologist, and former curator with two decades of experience in museum collections management, university teaching, archaeological fieldwork, and federal service in support of cultural heritage protection and preservation. As executive director of the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee, she led 16 federal agencies in efforts to protect cultural heritage at-risk from political instability, armed conflict, and disasters.

Catherine has negotiated 10 anti-trafficking agreements with countries around the world—primarily in the Middle East and North Africa—as part of the United States’ implementation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention. She has developed numerous trainings and outreach efforts with police, ministries of culture, museums, and NGOs, building lasting bridges between law enforcement and cultural heritage stewards.

Catherine understands the particular needs of museums and other cultural institutions when it comes to protection and care, having led collections inventory and preventive conservation projects.

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William Barkley

Partner

William has a proven track record of leading and managing diverse teams across the globe in security, investigations, logistics, tactical operations and training.

William T. Barkley is a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience spanning military, law enforcement, and private security sectors. As a retired U.S. Army veteran and former state police officer, William has demonstrated expertise in security, investigations, logistics, and tactical operations. His extensive resume includes roles as a bomb technician, SWAT operator, and protective security specialist, proving his versatility in high-stakes situations. With a track record of leading diverse teams across the globe, he developed and managed teams in both corporate and para-military environments, operating in a wide range of conditions. His robust network of worldwide contacts attests to his ability to navigate complex environments and collaborate effectively with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.

As a Netflix Production Safety Consultant, William showcased his adaptability and proactive approach to safety and security. Here, he excelled at creating comprehensive risk assessments and developed strategies to implement creative safety protocols. William’s experience underscores his ability to lead, manage, and innovate in dynamic environments, making him a valuable asset in any security or investigative endeavor.

K.T. Newton

Partner

K.T. is an experienced trial attorney and recognized expert in cultural property law, having prosecuted and convicted individuals for theft, trafficking, fraud, and other crimes.

K.T. Newton is an experienced trial attorney, who served as a prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for 27 years. Prior to her federal service, she was a commercial litigator with a leading Philadelphia law firm. With the U.S. Attorney’s Office, K.T. handled complex cases involving corruption, white collar financial crime and money laundering, as well as international drug trafficking.

For the last 10 years, she was the dedicated prosecutor working with the Philadelphia FBI Art Crime Team members and advising FBI Art Crime Team special agents across the country, as well as working with Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection special agents on cultural property investigations and recoveries. K.T. prosecuted and convicted individuals for theft of cultural property, trafficking in counterfeit goods, as well as fraud and money laundering. She also led law enforcement teams in the repatriation of numerous objects of cultural heritage that had been stolen from cultural institutions and individuals.

A recognized expert in the area of cultural property law, K.T. has given presentations and participated in panels and training on this topic across the United States and abroad. She also taught a year-long intensive Trial Advocacy class at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law for several years.

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Anthony Amore

Senior Advisor

Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on art crime and security, Anthony has helped recover over 70 paintings and ethnographic art.

Anthony Amore is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on the topic of art crime and security. For nearly two decades he has been responsible for the protection of one of the country’s top-ranked art collections. During that time, he has worked alongside the FBI investigating the world’s largest art heist. He has helped recover over 70 paintings and pieces of ethnographic art. He has also conducted security assessments for other museums, libraries, universities, and private collections. He has written three national best-sellers on the topic of art crime. He currently serves on Northeastern University’s Advisory Board for protecting soft target institutions and on the Massachusetts State House Art Commission.

Prior to his work in the art world, Anthony was a special agent with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Security Division and, after 9/11, worked to rebuild security at Logan Airport with the newly formed Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration. He is the recipient of numerous performance-based award and was twice nominated by his superiors for a Service to America medal. He also led the security effort in response to the 2001 attempted terror attack by Richard Reid, the so-called “Shoebomber.” 

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Paul (PJ) Jarrett

Senior Advisor

Former manager of HSI’s Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Program, PJ has recovered thousands of cultural artifacts and conducted extensive training across the globe.

After 30 years in law enforcement, PJ Jarrett retired as a Special Agent for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), where he enjoyed a long and distinguished career.  Notably serving as the National Program Manager for HSI’s Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Program, PJ used his expertise managing cultural property investigations in the field, providing support to other investigators, developing relationships with subject matter experts and building extensive networks with domestic and foreign law enforcement partners.  During his time managing the Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Program, PJ was instrumental in the recovery and repatriation of thousands of cultural artifacts and conducted extensive cultural property training across the globe.

Prior to his time leading art and antiquity cases, PJ also served as National Program Manager for the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Investigations Division at HSI Headquarters. There, he provided strategic, programmatic, and operational guidance and support to HSI’s engagement in Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the United States.

PJ’s accomplishments are many, and he is a proven leader with a record of excellence.

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