Father-Daughter Duo Plead Guilty to $2 Million Art Fraud Scheme
A father and daughter from Fresh Jersey have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a scheme to defraud art buyers with counterfeit works attributed to renowned artists like Andy Warhol and Banksy. Erwin Bankowski, 50, and his daughter, Karolina Bankowska, 26, admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud and falsely representing Native American-produced goods, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. The pair faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and is required to pay at least $1.9 million in restitution.
The Counterfeit Operation
Between 2020 and 2025, Bankowski and Bankowska allegedly sold over 200 forged artworks to galleries and auction houses across the United States. The counterfeits were primarily created by an unnamed artist based in Poland. Prosecutors stated that the scheme involved fabricating provenance for the artworks, claiming they had previously been part of private collections associated with the artists themselves, or that they originated from now-defunct art galleries or corporate collections. Artnet News reported that these tactics were used to make it tricky for potential buyers to verify the authenticity of the pieces.
Notable Fakes and Sales
The counterfeit works included imitations of pieces by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Richard Mayhew. The most profitable fake, attributed to Richard Mayhew, was sold at a DuMouchelles auction last October for $160,000. NBC New York detailed how the duo targeted both prominent auction houses and individual buyers in New York City.
The Investigation and Plea
The investigation revealed that Bankowska initially approached Robert Rogal, a New York City art dealer, in 2025, offering a purported Andrew Wyeth painting on consignment. Rogal, while noting some ambiguity in the painting’s history, accepted the piece, anticipating a sale price between $20,000 and $30,000. He later discovered it was likely a forgery. CTV News reported that the pair pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026, in federal court in Brooklyn.
Statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office
“For years, these defendants painted themselves as purveyors of fine art while selling lies on canvas,” stated Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s convictions strip away the varnish and reveal the fraud underneath.” Artnet News published this statement following the guilty plea.
Key Takeaways
- Erwin Bankowski and Karolina Bankowska pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and misrepresentation of Native American-produced goods.
- The pair sold over 200 counterfeit artworks between 2020 and 2025, generating at least $2 million in fraudulent sales.
- The counterfeits included works falsely attributed to artists such as Andy Warhol, Banksy, Pablo Picasso, and Richard Mayhew.
- The scheme involved fabricating provenance to deceive buyers.
- Both defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and must pay restitution.
Keep reading