Did Vero Beach man sell you fraudent art? Los Angeles detectives want to know - TCPalm

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LOS ANGELES —A Vero Beach man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles accusing him of defrauding an art collector out of more than $2 million by selling him forged works of Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Jackson Pollock.

Federal prosecutors say 43-year-old Matthew Taylor of Vero Beach was arrested Thursday and was expected to make a court appearance in Fort Pierce.

Taylor was indicted on seven felony counts, including wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted, he faces up to 100 years in federal prison.

Authorities say Taylor stole paintings from a Los Angeles gallery.

Also, altered paintings from unknown artists were made to resemble those of famous painters and were sold to the victim at prices higher than their actual worth, according to officials who said fake labels were also used from the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Guggenheim Museum.

The Los Angeles Police Department's art theft detail is seeking a painting worth $20,000 by Lucien Frank entitled "Park Scene, Paris," Detective Don Hrycyk said.

Investigators ask that anyone who purchased art from Taylor and believes a fraud may have occurred should contact the FBI at 310-477-6565 or the Los Angeles Police Department's Art Theft Detail at 213-486-6940.