Federal prosecutors say a former High Museum of Art executive has been arraigned on a charge tied to federal funds after investigators allege he siphoned more than $600,000 from the institution through falsified paperwork and improper approvals.
Brady Lum, the former chief operating officer of the High Museum of Art, was arraigned this week on a federal charge of receiving federal funds. Authorities allege Lum used his museum role to approve and conceal purchases that were actually for his personal benefit.
The High Museum is described in court documents as a major cultural institution in Atlanta with a collection of more than 20,000 works and a busy schedule of exhibitions and community programs. Lum held the COO post from January 2, 2019, until his resignation on December 9, 2025, and he was responsible for managing the museum’s operational and financial activities.
Federal filings say Lum repeatedly converted museum money into personal spending by altering invoices and signing off on transactions that were not legitimate museum expenses. Investigators allege he routed costs through supplier invoicing and the museum’s corporate credit card system, then hid them with accounting entries that spread expenses across different cost centers.
Prosecutors list a range of non-business items Lum allegedly acquired on the museum’s dime, including luxury guitars and other music equipment, personal music lessons, and woodworking tools. The complaint asserts he used delegated approval authority and manipulated paperwork to avoid detection, sometimes submitting doctored invoices that masked the true nature of the purchases.
“While entrusted to run the High Museum, Lum allegedly used the museum’s money as his personal slush fund and thereby betrayed one of Atlanta’s civic crown jewels,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will move with swift precision to prosecute individuals who abuse positions of power and trust to enrich themselves at the expense of non-profit institutions.”
“We expect officials of one of our communities’ historic institutions to serve as stewards — not to loot it,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham. “The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.”
One example cited in the complaint occurred on or about November 29, 2024, when Lum allegedly submitted an altered invoice for reimbursement through the museum’s online expense platform. The submitted document showed a $9,147.87 purchase listed as equipment for the museum, while the original invoice, according to prosecutors, reflected a guitar and related accessories intended for Lum’s private use.
Over the period outlined by investigators, Lum is accused of taking in excess of $600,000 from the High Museum through these schemes. The complaint details multiple instances where reimbursements and supplier payments were mischaracterized to conceal their personal nature.
Brady Lum, 59, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher C. Bly. Court filings remind the public that these are allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty or until he admits guilt in a court of law.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas N. Joy. Prosecutors say they will continue to pursue the matter through the federal court process as the case moves forward.
