Modern Art Ripoff: Embezzlement At The Whitney

Two employees who worked the visitor services unit at the Whitney Museum were arrested for embezzling about $880,000 in cash from the museum over two years. Naseem Wahlah, the 29 year-old manager of visitor services, stole $840,000 and Rowan Foley, a 25 year-old who worked under her, stole $30,000 - and were working separately. But the museum didn't find out because of an audit - oh, no, officials only found out because Foley said he suspected Wahlah of stealing money, why no one knows, and he got busted as well, since video cameras caught both of them "stuffing pockets and a purse with cash." The scam was simple: Sell tickets for cash ($12 for adults, $9.50 for students and seniors) but then then void them when entering information into museum computers and pocket the cash! Wahlah kept the cash in her Brooklyn home, saying it was for her retirement (at 29 - she was really planning ahead), but Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau gave a Briscoe-ism, "We have some other plans for her before then."

The Whitney Museum claims they are in fine financial health, but it is CRAZY that no one spotted almost a million missing. Crazy and hilarious - what fools and double crossing. Gothamist feels a Law & Order episode coming on...

Updated: Gawker says the Whitney's Board of Trustees wanted to keep this story out of the press while our eagle-eyed readers post links to Friend profiles for Wahleh and Foley.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on July 30, 2004 9:06 AM

Comments [rss]

pieceomymind

why did it take so long to discover a shortfall of 880K? that's a sad joke...

didn't it send up any red flags w/all the voided tix?

it's actually a decent museum - was there last wk'end

stopheles

Pshaw, having someone in your Friendster network just ain't that big a deal. I knew Naseem well for most of the past decade, but started feeling like we didn't really know each other after a few post-undergrad years...I'm shocked by this, but on some level, not 100% surprised that her sense of entitlement would lead to something bad.

joe s

Wahlah was took the money over a thirty month span. Assume she worked 20 days/month, or 600 days, over that time period. That works out to pocketing $1400/day, roughly 7% of the Whitney's daily cash sales!

Jen

Witold, that is CRAZY. And really depressing. I think of all the museums out there trying to crap together enough money to put on shows, or students and other adults who don't have the cash to pay full admission... This is terrible.

Witold Riedel

http://www.witoldriedel.com/MT/archives/001041.shtml#001041

my dark feeling is that it might be something that happens in a few more museums... : |

probably all over the world?... and maybe not only museums?... and... oh boy...

friendster2

And this is her glowing Friendster testimonial to him...

"Rown is one of the most laid back, easy

going goof-balls I know. He is fun and

openminded and always sees the good in

people, unless they are really pure

evil. He is a lot of fun, tells fun

stories... He is a good friend I have

known for over 2 yesrs. I dig Rowan!"

And lo and behold, they're in my personal network. Friendster: you're only a few degrees away from crooks.

King Hippo

Any more interesting tidbits from the profiles for those of us lacking the desire to register for a Friendster account?

Jen

I love you, Gothamist readers. You're amazing.

damn

i love how she describes herself:

"I am a hardworking, dedicated, honest straight forward person. I don't play games. I just like to have a good time with good people. Exchange interesting idesas, get into long deep discussions. My moto is quality, not

quantity when it comes to friends. I like all animals. (sometimes I feel like I live in a zoo!)"