Tom Wesselmann Henri Matisse Marc Chagall Pompidou Plans a Roving Museum New York Sales Preview Picasso Leads Sotheby's Print Sale Healthy Results at Christie's Prints and Multiples Sale Martin Creed Debuts Ballet at Frieze

Send a letter to the Editor

Save to Del.icio.us Digg this

Concepcion is accused of acquiring authentic paintings by masters such as Matisse, Chagall, and Wesselmann, acquiring or commissioning forgeries of the works, and selling the copies as originals. He sold the works between 2005 and 2007 in New York and the Miami gallery Proarte.

One buyer paid $180,000 — in the form of $120,000 and a traded 2004 Bentley — for a painting said to be a 1969 work by Calder that was proven to be fake. The same buyer had bought 14 other works from Concepcion.

Defense lawyer Mark Heller says that Concepcion's conduct "at no time was criminal" and argues that at least one artwork whose authenticity was in question had been previously bought and sold by other dealers. "To persecute and accuse my client when it passed through the hands of other dealers is unfair and makes him a scapegoat," he said.

If convicted, Concepcion could face up to 30 years in prison.