Alan Kass, the owner of Chicago’s Kass/Meridian Gallery, Sawyer Cade and John Panos were indicted after a long-running investigation this week on charges of selling fake Warhol, Dalí, Lichtenstein and Picassos:
Kass and Panos allegedly made fake markings on the prints to make them look like limited-edition works, then Kass and Cade sold them on eBay, at auctions and on two Internet websites Cade maintained for KMG.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of $480,000, the amount Kass fraudulently made through the sale of the fake artwork. The charges stem from an international investigation of fraudulent artwork. Three years ago, the investigation was made public in Chicago when federal agents executed search warrants at KMG. In March 2008, seven defendants from Europe, Florida, New York and Illinois were charged with fraudulently producing or selling $5 million worth of counterfeit fine art prints.
Gallery Owner Sold Fake Warhols: Cops (NBC Chicago)
