Pastor Kevin Sutherland Convicted Of Trying To Sell Fake Damien Hirst Art
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Miami pastor has been convicted in New York on charges he offered faked works of British art star Damien Hirst to an undercover officer.
Kevin Sutherland was convicted Tuesday of attempted grand larceny. He buried his head in his hands as the guilty verdict was read, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
Sutherland tried to sell two counterfeit examples of Hirst's circular "spin" paintings and three bogus Hirst "spot" prints for $185,000, prosecutors said.
Florida Pastor Kevin Sutherland Convicted In NYC Fake Hirst Art Case
Sutherland testified that even though Sotheby's auction house told him the paintings had authenticity issues, he didn't read that to mean that they were fakes. He said he didn't ask Hirst's studio to weigh in because its authentication process was pricey.
He leads a small nondenominational church.
Sutherland could face up to seven years in prison when he is sentenced May 19.
His lawyer said they are disappointed and might appeal.
Hirst received Great Britain's best-known art award, the Turner Prize, in 1995.
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