Author Indicted on 10 Counts for Stealing Montana Historical Artifacts

Brian D’Ambrosio, a 49-year-old author from New Mexico, was indicted on 10 federal counts after prosecutors say he took items from the Montana Historical Society in Helena and offered them for sale online. The charges include theft of major artwork, interstate transportation of stolen property and wire fraud, reflecting federal involvement because of alleged sales across state lines.

Court documents say D’Ambrosio conducted research at the society between April 2022 and September 2023 and is accused of removing archival material during those visits. Among the items listed in the indictment are letters written by Nancy Russell, wife of Western artist Charlie Russell; an 1889 Montana Constitutional Convention flag and program; an early 1900s Ravalli County Sheriff’s card; and a 1905 letter from Centennial Brewing in Butte. Federal agents allege D’Ambrosio later attempted to sell some of the items on eBay.

The FBI used an undercover agent to contact D’Ambrosio about purchasing some of the alleged stolen artifacts, according to court filings. D’Ambrosio was arraigned Jan. 16 in U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, entered a plea of not guilty and was released pending further proceedings. If convicted of the most serious count, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

D’Ambrosio is the author of several Montana-focused books, including a study of boxer Marvin Camel, a history of cinema in Montana and a volume chronicling National Football League players and coaches from Montana. His book on Marvin Camel was a High Plains Award finalist. The combination of his published credentials and a research role at the historical society has heightened local concern that trusted access to archives may have been abused.

For residents of Lewis and Clark County and those who rely on Montana Historical Society collections, the indictment raises practical and cultural questions. Museums, archives and private collectors depend on clear provenance and secure handling to protect items that reflect community memory, tourism assets and research materials. The alleged loss of a Constitutional Convention flag and correspondence tied to a major Montana artist underscores the potential cultural cost.

Local historians, genealogists and collectors will want to track court developments as prosecutors prepare their case. Verify provenance before buying or selling Montana artifacts and consult the Montana Historical Society if you suspect items may be linked to institutional collections. The federal case against Brian D’Ambrosio now moves into pretrial proceedings, and its outcome will influence how local institutions reassess access, supervision and security for irreplaceable pieces of Montana history.