A California man, Brian Alec Light, has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to trafficking after he tried to sell a stolen Andy Warhol print depicting Vladimir Lenin. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Light will plead guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. The stolen artwork, valued at over $175,000, is a unique trial proof of Warhol's 1987 screenprint of the former Soviet leader.
The crime carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. As part of his plea deal, Light will forfeit the stolen piece, which was recovered by authorities.
The artwork, identified as number 44 of 46 from the trial proof series, was stolen from a Los Angeles residence in February 2021. After being sold to a pawn shop, it was consigned to an auction house in Dallas. However, the gallery that originally sold the piece, Hamilton Selway in West Hollywood, flagged it as stolen when it reappeared at auction. The FBI intervened following the tip, and Light was later questioned about the theft. He falsely claimed to have bought the piece at a garage sale for $18,000 and even submitted a fake receipt to the FBI.
Light's initial court appearance is scheduled for October 28, with the FBI’s Art Crime Team leading the investigation.
Selena Mattei
| ArtMajeur Magazine