FBI: Sotheby’s defrauded of $5 million in auction scheme

NEW YORK A fine art consultant in New York and an interior designer in Florida stole an elderly woman’s identity and used it to bid millions of dollars on famous paintings and defraud the renowned Sotheby’s auction house, federal prosecutors allege in court filings.

Joakim von Ditmar and Antonio DiMarco are accused of using the identity of a wealthy, 80-year-old retiree to place winning bids on two paintings at a Sotheby’s contemporary art auction in the fall of 2017.

They snagged an untitled Mark Rothko for $6.4 million and “No. 12” by Ad Reinhardt for $1.16 million.

The pair, though, were quickly found out and never took possession of the art, authorities said. Sotheby’s became suspicious after a representative called the retiree and she disavowed any knowledge of the sales, a spokeswoman for the auction house said.

She didn’t even collect art, she later told investigators.

“Our discussions with the purchasers raised significant suspicion and concern for the elderly client they purported to represent and we felt it was necessary to contact the FBI,” Sotheby’s said in an emailed statement. “We are pleased that the appropriate action has been taken and the victim has been protected.”

Von Ditmar, an art consultant and fashion designer, and DiMarco, an interior designer from Hallandale, Florida, are charged with wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.

Von Ditmar did not respond to an email seeking comment. His defence attorney, Mark Gombiner, declined to comment.

DiMarco was taken into custody last week on theft and money laundering charges in a separate case involving the same Florida woman and work he was supposed to be doing on her home.