In a shocking turn of events, 77-year-old Carter Reese of Reading, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 60 days in prison for his role in a brazen art fraud scheme. The scheme, which involved making false representations about the source and authenticity of certain art pieces, has left a trail of devastation in its wake.
According to the United States Attorney David Metcalf, Reese pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud in May of this year. The charges stemmed from a period of approximately two years, from February 2019 to March 2021, during which Reese sold and attempted to sell art that he claimed was created by prominent artists.
The list of artists whose work Reese claimed to be selling is a veritable who’s who of the art world, including Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jean Cocteau, Keith Haring, Fernand Léger, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol. However, as Reese well knew, the pieces were nothing more than clever forgeries, designed to part unsuspecting buyers from their hard-earned cash.
The investigation into Reese’s activities was led by members of the FBI’s Art Crime Team, with agents from the Philadelphia and Miami field offices working tirelessly to unravel the complex web of deceit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and Jason Grenell, who worked to ensure that justice was served.
In addition to his 60-day prison sentence, Reese has been ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and restitution of $186,125. He will also be subject to two years of supervised release, with four months to be served on home detention. The sentence is a stark reminder that art fraud will not be tolerated, and those who engage in such activities will be held accountable.
The case serves as a warning to others who would seek to profit from the sale of fake art. As the art world continues to grapple with the issue of forgery, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors are working to stay one step ahead of those who would seek to deceive. The sentence handed down to Carter Reese is a clear indication that the authorities take these crimes very seriously, and will not hesitate to take action against those who engage in them.
In the end, the sentence is a victory for the victims of Reese’s scheme, who have been left to pick up the pieces and try to move on from their ordeal. It is also a testament to the hard work and dedication of the law enforcement agents and prosecutors who worked to bring Reese to justice. As the art world looks to the future, it is clear that the fight against art fraud will continue to be a top priority.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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