Prison time for his Warhols

By adamg on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 5:28pm

A Lynn man got 37 months in federal prison today for selling what turned out to be two fake Andy Warhol paintings, the US Attorney's office reports.

Brian Walshe, 47, offered a pair of Warhols on eBay and hooked a buyer in 2016, to whom he delivered fake Warhols with no "Warhol Foundation authentication stamps" and canvasses and staples that looked new, which was also suspicious, given that Warhol had died in 1987.

Walshe had pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud, interstate transportation for a scheme to defraud and unlawful monetary transaction in 2021, the US Attorney's office reports, adding that in addition to prison time, Walshe also has to pay $475,000 in restitution.

Neighborhoods:

Lynn

Topics:

Crime

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Comments

"Lynne man"

By John z on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 5:37pm.

Oh yes, the same "Lynne man" whose wife Ana mysteriously "disappeared."

What a fool

By BostonDog on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 6:05pm.

Who would buy expensive investment art on eBay?!?!

That's what facebook marketplace is for.

Really?

By John z on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 6:33pm.

The victim had a large collection of Warhols and had asked for verification, which also was faked.
He was not a newbie to art buying.
Don't blame the victim.
Also, why is Uhub saying Brian is from Lynn? He's from Cohasset!

Tell the US Attorney's office

By adamg on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 9:26pm.

They IDed him as a Lynn man.

Perhaps

By brianjdamico on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 9:35pm.

It was because at the time of his arrest for this fraud crime, he was a Lynn man.

LYNN - The WBZ I-Team obtained booking photos Friday of Brian Walshe that were taken at the Lynn Police Department moments after federal agents raided his Lynn home on May 9, 2018.

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/brian-walshe-booking-photo-2018-art-...

He's from Cohasset despite what they say

By Waquiot on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 10:24pm.

As that is where he was living when arrested for the much more serious crime on his rap sheet.

If you are going to start taking everything law enforcement as the gospel truth, that'll lead you down paths like this.

also..

By bostnkid on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 6:54pm.

murdered and dismembered his wife in cohasset. allegedly.

Further scams

By Angry Dan on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 7:21pm.

Seems there was also an attempt to scam the murder investigators.

... just days after Ana Walshe was last seen alive, investigators received an email saying “we have her here with us” and that Walshe would not be returned until she paid $127,000.

You don't just buy his work

By anon on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 7:36pm.

You don't just buy his work that way. Warhol? I met Andy once at the Intermational Jumping Derby in the early 80s. That's the closest I ever got to the real man before he died too soon a year later. I was so awestruck by his presence and gentle smile and greeting. Changed the art world.

Great

By JohnAKeith on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 10:53pm.

Thank you, John Costello.

I saw Warhol at a grocery

By Jack Schwartz on Wed, 02/21/2024 - 2:58am.

I saw Warhol at a grocery store in Los Angeles in 1984. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.
He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”
I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.