Yesterday, Supreme Court of New York sentenced a swindler Lawrence Selendera to 18 years' imprisonment with possibility of parole no earlier than 6 years

Yesterday the Supreme Court of New York sentenced a swindler Selendera Lawrence (Lawrence Salander) to 18 years' imprisonment with the possibility of parole not earlier than 6 years.

Sentence Manhattan court was the result of one of the most celebrated trials of our days, associated with scams on the art market. «Case antiquarians" American-style began with his arrest in March 2009, manager and co-owner of the gallery Salander-O'Reilly Galleries Lawrence Selendera . Art dealer was charged with 100 points, including theft of a large-scale falsification of documents on business transactions, fraud with intent to deceive investors, forgery and perjury. year later, in March 2010 Selender pleaded guilty to stealing $ 120 million from its customers and investors .

Among Selenderom defrauded customers and investors have been a famous tennis player John McEnroe (John McEnroe), actor Robert De Niro (Robert De Niro) and Bank of America. Obtained by unlawful way he used the money to maintain a luxurious lifestyle: owned several expensive estates and flew to Europe on a personal plane.

Before the final date for sentencing (first was June 23, and then the hearing was adjourned until August 3) Selendera released on bail of $ 1 million. He had to at least partially compensate their creditors their stolen funds. As reported in yesterday's hearing, a judge of the Supreme Court of New York Michael Obus (Michael Obus), a penny of the designated dealer 114.9 million Selender not paid.

managed to get partial compensation to creditors Salander-O'Reilly following a June 9 auction, Christie's. at auction were exhibited those works from the collection of art dealer, who had not been claimed by creditors of the gallery, as well as work requests which were granted by the court for bankruptcy . auction brought a total 2.1 million dollars, against an expected 2.5 million .

at the trial yesterday Selender pleaded guilty and apologized to the victims of his financial misdeeds and their relatives. At the court hearing the accused's wife Julie and three of his seven children. As the lawyer, Charles Ross (Charles Ross), shortly before the trial Julia left her husband.

Lawyer Ross asked Judge Michael Obusa for clemency to the accused, noting Selendera dependence on alcohol and Vicodin - narcotic analgesic. He mentioned about the charitable donations of art-dealer. But the judge stayed true to the original decision on the maximum sentence.

Against Selendera testified deceived customers. The son of an American Art Nouveau painter Stuart Davis (Stuart Davis) Earl Davis said that for him it would be easier being subjected to armed robbery, rather than to be deceived so many years an old friend, what he thought Selendera. Davis called the verdict fair and repentance Selendera late.

He supported a psychiatrist from Connecticut Shender Ellen (Ellyn Shander). She told how Selender stole and sold a collection of her father bequeathed to her and her two sisters, almost immediately after his funeral, which the fraudster "sincerely" mourned the dead.

upon conviction Selendera first sent to the city jail in New York at Rikers Island and then in a corrective labor colony in the town of Fishkill (New York). There, experts will assess his condition before determining the final location of his detention. As the lawyer said Ross, is serving time in state prison is much more difficult than in a federal, because there are fewer amenities and a more stringent regime.

Case Lee Morse (Leigh Morse), who worked with Selenderom and also arrested last year, has not yet completed. Cases of bankruptcy galleries are also underway. Estate Selendera in Millbrook and over two thousand items from its galleries remain unsold. Echoes of "case of Antiquaries" will long be heard in the press, but the main culprit has already suffered a fair punishment.

Material prepared Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources: bloomberg.com , artinvestment.ru