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NY Couple Pleads Guilty to $2M Fake Art Scheme

4/30/2026

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Story summary
  • Karolina Bankowska and Erwin Bankowski pleaded guilty in New York federal court to a wire-fraud conspiracy that sold 200 counterfeit paintings and defrauded buyers of at least $2 million.
  • The scheme used forged gallery stamps referencing firms such as M. Knoedler & Co.
  • Among the fakes, they sold a Richard Mayhew painting for $160,000 in October.
  • They face up to three years in prison, $1.9 million restitution and possible deportation to Poland.