Father-Daughter Duo Pleads Guilty to $2M Art Fraud Involving Fake Banksys and Warhols
A father and daughter from New Jersey, Erwin Bankowski and Karolina Bankowska, have pleaded guilty to defrauding art buyers and auction houses in New York City of at least $2 million. The duo sold counterfeit artworks, including fake pieces attributed to renowned artists like Banksy and Andy Warhol. These counterfeits were produced in Poland by an unnamed co-conspirator and included reproductions of lesser-known works. The most profitable fake, purportedly by artist Richard Mayhew, was sold for $160,000. The scheme targeted several prominent auction houses, including DuMouchelles, Bonhams, and Phillips. The pair faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy and misrepresenting Native American-produced goods, with potential sentences of over three years in prison, $1.9 million in restitution, and possible deportation to Poland. 
