Father-Daughter Duo Pleads Guilty in $2 Million Art Forgery Scheme
Erwin Bankowski, 50, and his daughter Karolina Bankowska, 26, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of wire fraud conspiracy and misrepresenting Native American-produced goods. Federal prosecutors revealed that the pair commissioned a Polish artist to create at least 200 counterfeit artworks—including forgeries attributed to Andy Warhol and Banksy—and sold them through major auction houses, defrauding victims of at least $2 million.
"They commissioned a Polish artist to create at least 200 counterfeit artworks... defrauding victims of at least $2 million."
The Forgery Operation
The fake artworks were produced in Poland by an unnamed co-conspirator starting in 2020. The pair used antique paper and forged gallery stamps to create convincing provenance for the pieces. Their most profitable sale was a fake Richard Mayhew painting that sold for $160,000 in October 2023.
Auction Houses Targeted
The fraudulent works were sold through several prominent auction houses, including:
- DuMouchelles
- Bonhams
- Phillips
- Freeman's
- Antique Arena
Red Flags Ignored
In one notable case, a forged painting attributed to Raimonds Staprans sold for $60,000—despite scrutiny from the artist's representatives. Art experts later noted that the forged stamps contained anachronistic details, such as a zoning address that had been phased out years earlier.
Legal Consequences
Bankowska placed over $1 million in an escrow account as part of the scheme. Both father and daughter now face potential prison time and deportation to Poland.