A father and daughter from New Jersey have pleaded guilty to orchestrating a long-running counterfeiting scheme that duped art galleries and auction houses into purchasing forged paintings attributed to renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Banksy, and Pablo Picasso.
Details of the Scheme
Federal prosecutors revealed that Erwin Bankowski, 50, and Karolina Bankowska, 26, commissioned a Polish artist to produce at least 200 counterfeit artworks. The fraudulent sales netted the pair at least $2 million, with buyers including some of New York's most prestigious fine art auction houses.
The forgeries often replicated lesser-known pieces by prolific artists. The most lucrative fake—a work falsely attributed to artist Richard Mayhew—was sold by auction house DuMouchelles in October 2023 for $160,000.
A representative for DuMouchelles confirmed cooperation with federal authorities but declined to comment further on the sale. Other auction houses targeted in the scheme, including Bonhams, Phillips, Freeman’s, and Antique Arena, either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries.
Legal Proceedings and Apologies
In a New York court on Tuesday, both father and daughter expressed remorse for their actions. Under federal guidelines, they face potential prison sentences exceeding three years, along with $1.9 million in restitution and possible deportation to Poland.
Bankowska told the judge, “My conduct was wrong and I am guilty.” Her attorney, Todd Spodek, noted that his client had deposited over $1 million into an escrow account. Erwin Bankowski, speaking through a Polish interpreter, also apologized. His lawyer, Jeffrey Chabrowe, stated that his client “regrettably made a terrible decision in an effort to support his family.”
The pair, Polish citizens residing in New Jersey, were charged with wire fraud conspiracy and misrepresenting Native American–produced goods, a charge linked to their duplication of works by Luiseño artist Fritz Scholder.
US attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. remarked, “For years, these defendants painted themselves as purveyors of fine art while selling lies on canvas to unsuspecting collectors. Today’s convictions strip away the varnish and reveal the fraud underneath.”
Reactions from the Art World
As news of the forgery spread, experts characterized the scheme as a classic case. Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime at the City University of New York, noted, “The only unusual thing about this case is that the forgers got caught. People think of the art world as a genteel place full of cultured people who just want to share the wonder of beautiful art. You should assume there are a lot more fakes out there.”
Prosecutors detailed that the father and daughter began commissioning the unnamed Polish artist in 2020 to create the counterfeits. They used antique paper and forged stamps to attach to the paintings, adopting names of long-closed galleries where the artists might plausibly have exhibited.
The sales soon attracted scrutiny. In March 2023, representatives for artist Raimonds Staprans discovered a forged painting titled Triple Boats listed for sale by an auction house. Days after the representatives contacted the auction house, the painting sold for $60,000, prosecutors said.
Thompson also observed other irregularities. For instance, the gallery stamp on the back of a forged Wyeth work listed its year as 1976 but included a zoning address number that had been phased out in 1962.
