Tuesday, September 17, 2013

NY art dealer admits to multi-million dollar art fraud

Via Frank

 Mark Rothko museum Latvia

A New York art dealer has pleaded guilty to being involved in a 15 year multi-million dollar art fraud. 

Glafira Rosales admitted she defrauded two Manhattan art galleries of more than $30m (£18m) with 63 fake art pieces.

The paintings were said to be never-before-exhibited and previously unknown works of art by artists including Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.

They were sold to unsuspecting buyers for more than $80m (£50m).

Rosales pleaded guilty to nine charges including wire fraud, tax fraud and money laundering.

She admitted in court that the works of art "were actually fakes created by an individual residing in Queens''.

The artist who painted the fakes, 73-year-old Pei-Shen Qian, won't be charged and has returned to his native China, prosecutors said.

More @ BBC

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