Brady Lum, the former chief operating officer of Atlanta's High Museum of Art, has pleaded guilty to a federal theft charge after admitting he misused more than $600,000 from the institution.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Lum altered invoices and approved transactions tied to personal spending, turning museum processes into a cover for private purchases. The case centers on expenses that included a guitar, musical gear, music lessons, and woodworking equipment.
Prosecutors said Lum used his position to spread charges across different cost centers and disguise them as legitimate museum spending. The Justice Department also said he submitted hundreds of reimbursements over several years, many of them under $1,000, to avoid immediate detection.
Lum served in the role from 2019 until resigning in 2025 during the investigation. As part of his plea agreement, he will repay the museum in full. His sentencing is scheduled for November 2.
The High Museum of Art, part of Atlanta's Woodruff Arts Center, remains one of the Southeast's leading cultural institutions, with a collection of more than 20,300 works spanning global art traditions. Cases like this highlight how stronger digital oversight and financial transparency can shape the future of cultural institutions.