Edward George Johnson: The One man Heist

Edward George Johnson: The One man Heist

By, Ben Hall

     In February of 2002, helicopter pilot Edward George Johnson was sent into Cairo with the American military for an eight month tour ending in October of the same year. He was tasked to transport troops and scout areas to dangerous to trek on foot. He served the full eight months and the end of 2002 and beginning of 2003, Johnson had ended up walking away with $20,000. Sounds pretty nice for being a helicopter pilot for only 8 months in Egypt right? Well it turns out that this considerable amount of money was not made from Johnson’s excellent piloting skills, but rather from his skills as a looter.   

Some Artifacts taken by Johnson, Photographed by Amged Maky

 Johnson had stolen some 80 artifacts from Egypt over  the course of his military tour. This first came to the public’s eye when Johnson had contacted a dealer who had been working with the government.  It is reported that the artifacts, before falling into Johnsons hands, where help in the Ma’adi Museum. Initially, looting from dig sites is a crime large enough for one to go to jail, and a disgraceful heinous act, but Johnson looted an actual museum, which in my opinion is 10x worse. It would be the equivalent of an Egyptian coming into the Museum of Natural history in New York during a time of chaos, and taking artifacts that rightfully belong to it. Essentially Johnson took advantage of the situation in a time where it was completely unnecessary.

     

Outside of the Ma’adi in Cairo

     Johnson, in this situation, is the only one to blame. There were no accomplices reported assisting Johnson when stealing and shipping the artifacts. It was his idea alone, and only he alone executed it. Not even the Ma’adi is to blame, as it is not their fault. Sure, security should have been beefed up, but during such a time of crisis and confusion anything can happen because most of the time people are vulnerable. Johnson took advantage of not just a museum, but an entire culture.

Comment if you agree with my opinion on Johnson being the only one that should be held accountable for this crime.  

Works Cited

"Blogger." : Create Your Free Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3173095721550120408>.

Feuer, Alan. "Army Pilot Held in Sale of Egyptian Artifacts." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Feb. 2008. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/nyregion/07soldier.html>.

"News Releases." ICE Returns Stolen Antiquities to Egypt. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/0812/081203newyork.htm>.