California Dealer Tatiana Khan Charged with Selling Phony Picasso


a forged Pablo Picasso pastel called "The Woman in the Blue Hat" which sold for $2 million. Federal prosecutors said Friday Jan. 8, 2010 that 69-year-old Tatiana Khan was charged with wire fraud and other crimes for the forgery. AP Photo/Department of Justice.

LOS ANGELES, CA (AP).- A West Hollywood antiques dealer has been charged with selling a phony Picasso for $2 million.

Federal prosecutors said Friday that 69-year-old Tatiana Khan was charged with wire fraud and other crimes. She's free pending arraignment but could face 45 years in prison if convicted.

A call to her lawyer wasn't immediately returned.

Prosecutors contend Khan paid an artist $1,000 in 2006 to duplicate a Pablo Picasso pastel called "The Woman in the Blue Hat" and sold the forgery for $2 million.

The FBI stepped in last year after the buyer had the work examined and learned it was a fake.

On Friday, FBI agents seized a genuine Willem de Kooning painting from Khan. Authorities claim she bought it for $720,000 using proceeds from the Picasso sale.



Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.