Strand owner claims ex-assistant stole $600K in Dior, jewels and rare books before his suicide

The gay personal assistant who reportedly suffered harassment leading to his suicide, was accused of stealing from the family of Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden. The allegations concern theft of valuables, money, and personal items from Nancy Bass Wyden, who is the owner of the Strand bookstore.

Bass Wyden, age 64, claims in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court that her former assistant, Branden O’Brien, misappropriated around $655,000 in assets.

According to the legal documents, O’Brien indulged in extravagant purchases, including $1,200 Christian Dior sneakers and a Disney Incredi-pass costing nearly $1,700. He also allegedly took an emerald pendant that belonged to Bass Wyden’s mother.

Among the stolen items, Bass Wyden noted 37 hardcover books, including editions of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,” Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis,” and Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Lost World,” valued at nearly $9,000.

It is claimed that O’Brien and Maltezos, his husband, sold these items on Poshmark.

Additionally, O’Brien allegedly utilized Bass Wyden’s Amazon Points to obtain over $42,000 in gift cards for himself.

O’Brien, who resigned in September 2024, was under investigation by the NYPD; however, the inquiry was halted following his suicide in May at the age of 35.

Maltezos has refuted the accusations of theft and in his legal response, charged Bass Wyden with permitting her children to harass O’Brien with vulgar and homophobic comments, asserting that her actions tarnished his reputation and affected his job prospects.

Bass Wyden, along with her children, resides primarily in New York, while the Oregon senator—a known critic of President Trump—divides his time between Oregon, Washington D.C., and New York City.

“The allegations leveled against me are unfounded and seem devised to shift focus from O’Brien’s persistent theft and the impact it had on my family, particularly our young children, who were just 14 and 9 when he joined our household,” Bass Wyden shared in a statement.

She accused Maltezos of having a “passive role” in these alleged crimes.

Maltezos’s attorneys, Reyna Lubin and Eric Baum, stated that the lawsuit represents “a clear attempt to retaliate against Thomas for his refusal to withdraw claims of wrongful death and employment discrimination made on behalf of his late spouse, Brandon,” adding, “Instead of acknowledging the documented homophobic treatment Brandon faced, she opted to attack those pursuing justice.”