March 30, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Suspect Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Sell Stolen Warhol Artwork in Beverly Hills Auction House

The Warhol Print Was Originally Sold by a West Hollywood Gallery 

Brian Alec Light, 58, of Hudson, Ohio, is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks to a federal charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods for his role in attempting to sell a stolen Andy Warhol print. His initial federal court appearance is scheduled for October 28.

According to his plea agreement, the stolen artwork is a Warhol trial proof depicting former Soviet Union leader Vladimir Lenin, one of only 46 made. The print, numbered 44 of 46, was taken from a Los Angeles County home in early 2021. The victim promptly reported the theft to law enforcement and to the West Hollywood gallery that originally sold the piece.

Days after the theft, the stolen Warhol print was sold to a pawnshop. The shop’s owner then contacted Light, who knew the artwork was stolen, to assist in selling it. Light arranged for the print to be sent to an auction house for sale. He instructed the pawnshop owner to deliver the artwork to the Beverly Hills auction house, which then shipped it to Dallas for inspection and inclusion in a 2021 auction.

However, when an auction house employee in Dallas reached out to the original gallery for its opinion, the gallery immediately recognized the print as stolen. The gallery notified both the auction house and the FBI.

When questioned by the FBI, Light lied about his involvement and produced a fake receipt, claiming he had purchased the artwork before it was stolen.

Upon pleading guilty, Light faces up to 10 years in federal prison. As part of his plea agreement, he will forfeit the stolen Warhol print, which was recovered by law enforcement.

The FBI’s Art Crime Team is handling the investigation.

in ARTS, NEWS
Related Posts

Judge to L.A. Leaders: ‘I Am Your Worst Nightmare’ in Scathing Homeless Spending Rebuke

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Carter Warns of Court Intervention if City and County Fail to Fix Broken Systems U.S. District Judge David O. Carter,...

Model Ex-Girlfriend Files Lawsuit, Police Report Against Self-Proclaimed Misogynist Andrew Tate

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Woman Alleges the Social Media Influencer Attacked Her at the Beverly Hills Hotel After controversial influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan...

Expect Delays: LADWP Launches Repaving Project on North La Cienega

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Santa Monica and La Cienega Among Areas Affected by LADWP Road Work City officials announced this week that the Los...

Mayor Karen Bass Texts Sent During the Palisades Fire Have Been Released

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Newly Recovered Texts Were Recovered After Sharp Criticism Over Deletions As wildfires swept through Los Angeles in early January, Mayor...

Serial Fraudster Swindled $18M From Investors in Fake Hemp Ventures

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Feds Seize Ferrari, Real Estate as Judge Jails Beverly Hills ‘Con Man’ Mark Roy Anderson, 70, of Beverly Hills, was...

Music Mogul Convicted, West Hollywood Co-Defendant Heads to Trial

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

West Hollywood Talent Executive Awaits Trial in Multi-Count Kingpin Act ​A federal jury has convicted José Ángel Del Villar, 44,...

LAPD Sets Weekend DUI Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols Across West Los Angeles

March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

Checkpoints Begin Friday, March 28; Patrols to Follow Throughout the Weekend Officials announced that the Los Angeles Police Department will...

Film Review: A Working Man

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

By Dolores Quintana A Working Man is the second collaboration between director David Ayer and actor Jason Statham, in which...

Cocktail Season Arrives in Brentwood While Beverly Hills Hosts Wine Dinner Affair

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

Bar Toscana Unveils Spring Cocktails as Nerano Prepares Wine-Paired Feast Bar Toscana is welcoming spring with a lineup of vibrant...

Exclusive Omakase Experience Comes to Beverly Hills for Four Weeks Only

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

Dine Under the Stars: Chef Wei Chen’s Omawei Takes Over The Belvedere Acclaimed chef Wei Chen is set to debut...

Culver City Gets a Taste of Italy with Bernie’s All-Natural Shaved Ice Pop-Up

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

Toasted Meringue Meets Farm-Fresh Granita at Citizen Market  A sweet new addition has arrived just in time for spring at...

Osteria Mamma Rings in 15 Years with New Chef and Tasting Events

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

From Pasta to Pinot: Osteria Mamma Kicks Off Anniversary with Flavor Osteria Mamma, a longtime favorite in Larchmont Village, is...

Green Beans and Beef Sticks Recalled in California Over Contamination Risks

March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

Officials Warn Consumers to Discard or Return Affected Products The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Del Monte Foods...

Duke’s Malibu Sends Message of Aloha After Mudslide Closure

March 26, 2025

March 26, 2025

We’ll Be Back: Reopening After Natural Disaster Planned Duke’s Malibu, a popular beachfront restaurant on the Pacific Coast Highway, has...

End of an Era: Garcelle Beauvais Announces Departure From RHOBH

March 26, 2025

March 26, 2025

Goodbye, Beverly Hills! Garcelle Beauvais Confirms RHOBH Departure Actress, producer, and star of the famed Beverly Hills-based reality show Garcelle...