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Bankowska, Bankowski Plead Guilty to $2 M Art Forgery Scheme

4/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

Karolina Bankowska and Erwin Bankowski pleaded guilty in federal court for selling 200 counterfeit artworks that defrauded buyers of $2 million.
In 2020 Karolina Bankowska and Erwin Bankowski hired an artist to produce forgeries with M. Knoedler & Co. stamps and offered a fake Andrew Wyeth watercolor to dealer Robert Rogal and auctions.
Karolina Bankowska and Erwin Bankowski face up to three years in prison, $1.9 million restitution, and placed $1 million in escrow.

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Story summary

Karolina Bankowska and Erwin Bankowski pleaded guilty in federal court for selling 200 counterfeit artworks that defrauded buyers of $2 million.
In 2020 Karolina Bankowska and Erwin Bankowski hired an artist to produce forgeries with M. Knoedler & Co. stamps and offered a fake Andrew Wyeth watercolor to dealer Robert Rogal and auctions.
Karolina Bankowska and Erwin Bankowski face up to three years in prison, $1.9 million restitution, and placed $1 million in escrow.