Criminal proceedings for the sale of counterfeit Picasso

[Евгений]

Art dealer from Hollywood Tatyana Khan (Tatiana Khan) gave a confession in the case of selling fake Picasso, reports The Los Angeles Times.
70-year-old owner of the gallery Chateau Allegre admitted that it paid restorer of paintings of Mary Appelo Cruz (Maria Apelo Cruz) thousand dollars for something that she has created a copy of the pastels in 1902 "Woman in Blue Hat. However, she said the artist, that this Picasso stolen from one of her clients, and a copy is needed to use it to catch the thief. Soon, however, it sold a copy for two million dollars.
When in 2009 the FBI contacted Khan in connection with a fake Picasso, she asked the artist not to talk about made up. In addition, the art dealer insisted on forging a treaty text with Cruz: it copies the figure was replaced by the restoration.

FBI Khan said that she had now given a cosmetologist as collateral for a debt of 40 thousand dollars. Subsequently, this man died. According to the stories Khan, the family of the beautician allegedly bought the painting for 300 thousand dollars, but the art dealer discovered that the "woman in blue hat" is much more expensive, and decided to sell the picture.

Khan faces up to 25 years in prison, but after the deal with the consequences of not condemn more than 21 months imprisonment. In addition, the art-dealer would have to indemnify the victim of fraud, as well as to send her a picture of Willem de Kooning, which Khan bought with money earned from the fraud.

Links
- Art dealer agrees to plea deal in $ 2-million sale of fake Picasso - The Los Angeles Times, 29.04.2010