A Southern California man who authorities say tried to sell US$6 million ($9m) worth of phony paintings he claimed were created by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and other modern masters was jailed for five years.
Philip Righter, 43, of West Hollywood was sentenced in a federal court in Miami after pleading guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and tax fraud, the US Attorney's office said.
Righter was given 60 months in prison in a case that was filed in Los Angeles. The judge also handed down a five-year sentence in a Florida case in which Righter acknowledged trying to sell forgeries to the owner of a Miami art gallery.
Both sentences will be served at the same time.
In a plea agreement, Righter acknowledged trying to sell counterfeit art that he claimed was genuine and using some fakes for income tax write-offs or as collateral for loans he never repaid.