My name is Chas Allen, when I was 19 I was involved in the Transylvania Book Heist which was famously listed among the F.B.I.’s all-time most significant art theft cases and landed me in prison for 7 years. AMA!

Can I steal your book?

I wouldn't recommend it.

What was your role? How did you get caught? Who's idea was it?

I was the last person to become involved in the heist, when they initially approached me about it, I said no for about a year, and then because of personal issues going on in my life, I eventually agreed to take part in it. I was the getaway driver.

We took the books to Christie's Auction House in NY, even though I vehemently disagreed because my family owned an auction house at the time and I understood the appraising process. Christie's researched the history of the books, the F.B.I. contacted them, and Spencer had given Christie's the number to his cell phone. Several months after the actual heist, we were arrested by a F.B.I. SWAT team.

Spencer initially saw the books during a private tour of the art program, Warren was the one who drove the idea of actually stealing the books.

Jesus Christ, why would anyone agree to work with such complete morons?? You guys deserved to be caught.

We did deserve to be caught and I'm glad we were.

If you were able to get away with it, what would you have done with the stolen items? I can only imagine how hard it is to move stuff like that.

The idea was to sell the items to an overseas black market buyer in Amsterdam who "supposedly" agreed to pay 12 million dollars for the entire collection of John James Audubon's "Birds of America."

Saw the movie...

Why did you guys decide to not wear the costumes for the 2nd attempt? Or at least why not change costumes? Going in without disguises seems like a near certain way to get caught considering the heist was on a campus where you actively attend school and have peers who could recognize you. What was the logic?

Because the costumes were ridiculous.

When did you know you were busted?

Immediately after Warren and Spencer came back from the meeting at Christie's Auction House. Spencer said he shared his personal cell phone number that could be traced back to him with Christie's.

When you spoke to your partners about these risks. Why did they ignore your advice?

Why did you get involved with people who clearly weren't bright enough?

I can only speak from my perspective, for that answer you'd have to ask them.

At the time, I wasn't thinking clearly and I had many lapses of judgment that I'm not proud of.

I'm curious about how the interrogation/investigation process went. Since this was just "3 dumb college kids", but that they managed to pull off such a big operation. Did they sit you down in a empty room and play good cop bad cop? Did you fess up right away?

Also, did you appropriately care for the books once in possession? Were they kept safe or just sitting on a coffee table?

There was a warrant for the arrest of Warren and Spencer. Many other people were brought in for questioning. The interrogation was to separate us all and question us all individually. Eventually, the interrogators produced a warrant for my arrest, I contacted an attorney and I pled guilty in acceptance of responsibility, as ultimately we all did.

The books were put away and cared for but it was nowhere near the care they deserved.

Where in the prisoner hierarchy did failed antiquarian book thief land you? Was that hierarchy palpable, or is it more of a pop culture invention?

In prison there is a lot of division. I made an effort to get along with everyone, and approached the hierarchy democratically. There hierarchy is palpable there, but mostly people want to get along with one another and as hard as it may seem from the outside looking in, people are just doing their best.

Are you planning on participating in this AMA at all or just plugging your book?

I'm answering as quick as I can.

Was it worth it ?

No, I'm sorry for the pain I caused, and the crime I committed. My experiences have led me to not believe in regret, but in acceptance of what is, in order to move forward.

You know, in the movies, when the characters usually leave the country after a big heist like this. Why didn't you leave? Was it discussed?

I ask this because according to your other replies, the fbi arrested you 7 months after the initial crime . That's more than enough time bro

The buyer "backed out" which caused the four of us to argue about what to do next. The crime happened in December, we were arrested in February.

We had considered leaving, but the F.B.I. had tapped our phones and arrested us before we could leave.