NY antiquities dealer charged with selling stolen artifacts

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Second-century Indian relief that authorities seized from the Nancy Wiener Gallery in New York City. Image courtesy of office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.

Second-century Indian relief that authorities confiscated from the Nancy Wiener Gallery in New York City. Image courtesy of office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.

 

NEW YORK (AP) – A New York antiquities dealer has been arrested on charges she sold stolen artifacts from international smugglers by creating sham documents to hide their history.

Prosecutors say Nancy Wiener was arrested Wednesday on charges of criminal possession of stolen property and conspiracy. They say she’s been trafficking in illegal antiquities since 1999.

Her lawyer, Georges Lederman, told The New York Times his client “surrendered voluntarily” and will respond at an appropriate time.

Prosecutors say that when her mother, also a dealer, died, Nancy Wiener inherited hundreds of illicit items at their gallery and arraigned inaccurate ownership histories. Christie’s then auctioned them off for $12.8 million.

In another example, prosecutors say Wiener purchased a stolen bronze Buddha and was displaying it in her gallery when authorities seized it in March.

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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com

Copyright 2016 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This information may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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