Update: Madison Art Dealer Called a "Serial Fraudster" Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison

A former Madison art dealer called a “serial fraudster” by the government was convicted to 57 months in prison on Friday.

David Crespo, 60, of Guilford was charged with a 12-count indictment in 2012 for selling fraudulent art from his Madison based, Brandon Gallery.

A press release from the U.S. Department of Justice stated that according to court documents and statements made in court, Crespo was an art dealer who operated the Brandon Gallery in Madison. Over the course of several years, Crespo defrauded customers by falsely representing that artwork he sold were original pieces by Pablo Picasso and original signed lithographs by Marc Chagall. As part of the scheme, Crespo forged numerous documents in order to provide “authentication” or provenances of the fakes to his victims.

Crespo pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud stemming from the sale of an imitation Marc Chagall lithograph in September 2013. The investigation revealed that CRESPO obtained reproductions of original Chagall lithographs, but represented to potential customers that they were, in fact, original lithographs that had been produced through an artistic lithographic method, and under the direction and authority of Marc Chagall.

Crespo victimized more than 10 people with the loss to the victims amounting to between $400,000 and $1 million. Crespo will pay restitution to the victims, an order for which will be issued within 90 days.

Crespo’s sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.

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