Crime & Safety

Crespo Pleads Guilty

David J. Crespo, 59, of Guilford, who did business at Brandon Gallery in Madison, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of mail fraud stemming from his sale of fraudulent artwork.

By Lauren Lanzon

According to a press release from the US Department of Justice, 59-year-old David J. Crespo, of Guilford pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to one count of mail fraud stemming from his sale of fraudulent artwork. Crespo was an art dealer who conducted business under the name Brandon Gallery in Madison.

The press release stated that Crespo was charged in a 12-count indictment that alleged he had defrauded his customers by falsely representing that artwork he sold were original pieces by Pablo Picasso and original signed lithographs by Marc Chagall. Crespo pleaded guilty to the fraudulent sale of an imitation Marc CHagall lithograph. While Crespo did obtain reproductions of original Chagall lithographs, he represented them to potential buyer that they were originals "that had been produced through an artistic lithographic method, and under the direction and authority of Marc Chagall."

In January 2010, Crespo met with an undercover FBI agent at Brandon Gallery, and during that meeting, Crespo presented himself as an expert in high-end art, the release stated. He and the agent discussed a lithograph known as "The Presentation of Chloe," and Crespo represented it as an “original lithograph” that was part of a limited edition collection made from “stone plates” from which multiple impressions were made from “the same plate," according to the release. 

The agent ultimately agreed to purchase the lithograph for $2,000, and in May 2012 Crespo shipped it to the agent, along with a certificate of authenticity. The certificate valued the piece at $12,750 for insurance purposes. It also stated that the piece was “hand signed by Chagall in crayon after the artist personally examined this particular example,” and represented that “[t]his work came from the collection of Richard Riskin, a longtime friend of the artist.” 

Crespo, however, had not obtained the lithography from Riskin, since Riskin did not in fact, exist. Crespo was also aware that the piece was nota limited edition "original lithograph manufactured under the artist’s direction using stone plates," put was merely a photo-mechanical production that was removed from a common edition book.

Later, in November 2012, the FBI searched the Brandon Gallery and found packages of Chagall Prints and practiced Chagall signatures.

Senior U.S. District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven scheduled sentencing for November 26, 2013. Crespo faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and may also be ordered to pay restitution to any victims of his offense. He has been out on bond since his arrest on April 3, 2012. 

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Madison Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Liam Brennan.


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