Overview
- Erwin Bankowski, 50, and Karolina Bankowska, 26, admitted in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday to wire fraud conspiracy and to misrepresenting Native American–produced goods.
- Prosecutors say they placed more than 200 forgeries into U.S. galleries and auction houses from 2020 to 2025 by fabricating ownership histories and affixing forged gallery stamps and certificates made on aged paper.
- Many fakes were painted by a commissioned artist in Poland, and examples cited by authorities include a Raimonds Staprans copy that sold for $60,000, a Banksy copy for $2,000, a Warhol for $5,500, and a Richard Mayhew for $160,000.
- Because some works were falsely tied to Native American artists such as Richard Mayhew and Fritz Scholder, the case triggered charges under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- The pair face up to 20 years in prison, at least $1.9 million in restitution, a sentencing set for August 5, and possible deportation as Polish citizens, with defense saying more than $1 million has been placed in escrow.