SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — A man from a San Diego suburb pleaded guilty Monday to a federal wire fraud charge for selling $1.1 million of forged artworks he claimed were created by acclaimed artist Richard Hambleton.
Jason Harrington, 38, of Escondido admitted to selling forgeries to at least 15 galleries and individuals between 2018 and 2020, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors allege Harrington gave prospective buyers fake letters from people who said they obtained the artworks, in which they claimed to have received the pieces from Hambleton himself. On one occasion, Harrington had a person speak directly with a buyer and make similar claims about obtaining art from Hambleton.
Harrington also photoshopped pictures to make it seem like the people who obtained the artworks personally knew or met with Hambleton, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Hambleton, who died in 2017, was known in part for his "Shadowman" paintings, and many of Harrington's forgeries were copies of Hambleton's Shadowman pieces. The artist rose to fame in the 1980s and his paintings sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The U.S. Attorney's Office also alleges Harrington tried to sell at least one forged painting that he claimed was made by portraitist Barkley Hendricks. Harrington claimed to be an art gallery owner and said he inherited the painting from his uncle, but the gallery at which he attempted to sell the fake later declined after Hendricks' widow viewed the painting and informed them it was forged.
“Forged artwork harms investors, corrupts the integrity of the art market, and damages the historical-cultural record,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman.
As part of his plea, Harrington has agreed to pay more than $1.1 million in restitution.
He's slated to be sentenced Oct. 22.
