Man admits stealing Andy Warhol paintings and attempting to sell fake versions on eBay
Brian Walshe took $80,000 for counterfeit versions of artist’s Shadow paintings
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Boston man has pleaded guilty to stealing Andy Warhol paintings from a friend then selling fake versions to a collector on eBay.
Brian Walshe 46, took $80,000 from the collector for two counterfeit versions of the artist’s Shadows series of works from 1978.
Walshe originally put them on eBay in 2016 for $100,000 after claiming that the purchase price of the artworks was $240,000.
Buyer Ron Rivlin, who owns a Los Angeles gallery, agreed to a deal for the paintings with a signed agreement that they could get a full refund within three days of purchase.
Authorities say the buyer’s assistant flew to Boston to collect the art and a day later Walshe paid it into his account.
Read more:
- George Floyd news live: Latest Derek Chauvin trial updates
- Alabama fails to reverse ban on yoga as conservatives say they fear rise in Hinduism
- Teacher’s ‘racist zoom rant’ overheard by student’s family after she forgets to end call
- YouTube Star James Charles admits messaging underage boys
- Seven-year-old boy charged with rape, report says
“According to bank records, the cashier’s check was deposited that day into an account that Walshe controlled, and $33,400 was subsequently withdrawn in the following 14 days,” said acting United States Attorney Nathaniel Mendell.
But a day after the purchase the new owner realised that something was wrong with the paintings.
“The buyer removed the paintings’ frames and found no Warhol Foundation authentication stamps and noticed that the canvasses and staples looked new,” said prosecutors.
“When he compared the paintings to the photographs from the eBay listing, they did not look identical. The buyer concluded that the paintings he purchased from Walshe were not authentic.”
Investigators say that Walshe, who had previously tried to sell the paintings to a New York City gallery in 2011, then made excuses to delay refunding the money.
Prosecutors say that Walshe got the paintings from a former college classmate in South Korea who agreed he could take the collection, which included the Warhol works, back to the US for sale.
But Walshe, who was arrested for the alleged scam in 2018, disappeared with the collection, until a mutual friend managed to track him down and get some of the artworks back.
Walshe pleaded guilty to wire fraud, interstate transportation for a scheme to defraud, possession of converted goods and unlawful monetary transaction.
He will be sentenced in August and the wire fraud charges carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments