Late last week the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District
of New York in conjunction with the FBI announced the unsealing of an indictment against
James Meyer, a former studio assistant to celebrated American artist, Jasper Johns. Meyer, who worked for Johns
for over 25 years, is accused of stealing 22 works from Johns’ studio between
2006 and 2012 and selling them through a gallery in Manhattan. Johns is presently 83 years old and maintains
a studio in Sharon, Connecticut.
Meyer was tasked with maintaining a studio file drawer
containing unfinished pieces that Johns had not authorized for sale, and these
were among the works Meyer is accused of removing and selling in secret. Meyer allegedly engaged in a serial scheme to
deceive his employer, the gallery, and prospective buyers, by claiming that the
pieces had been gifts from Johns and by mandating in the terms of the sales that
the pieces remain private for eight years.
Meyer is also accused of furthering this scheme by creating fictitious
inventory numbers and adding the works to a ledger of Johns’ registered
pieces, to give the impression that the pieces were finished and authorized to
be sold by Johns.
According to the indictment, the pieces sold for $6.5
million, and Meyer directly received $3.4 million. Meyer, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty, is charged with interstate transport of
stolen property and wire fraud.
No comments:
Post a Comment