The former Beverly Hills resident was charged with allegedly trying to sell stolen evidence by Andy Warhol.
The film is evidence of a trial showing Vladimir Lenin, worth around $175,000, but Glenn Stephen Bednash, 58, a resident of Farmington, Michigan, said he previously lived in Beverly Hills, but bought it in February 2021 for just $6,000.
“Bednash allegedly asked Brian Alec Wright, 58, a co-conspirator from Hudson, Ohio, that he was previously a resident of downtown Los Angeles.
When Bednarsh sent it to the auction house, the film was reported to have been stolen by the FBI, and later asked West Hollywood Gallery for a review. The gallery “quickly” knew it was a stolen work, the prosecutor added.
“When FBI agents began asking about evidence of the stolen Warhol trial in the second half of March 2021, Wright lied to them saying he bought it for $18,000 at the Culver City Garage Sale and provided a fake receipt,” the release added.
Bednash also tried to argue that he held evidence of light “from friendship, not financial interests,” but the FBI determined that it was a lie.
Last year, Hikari pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transport of stolen goods.
He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and is due to be sentenced May 27th.
Meanwhile, Bednarsh faces allegations of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods.
He is expected to be arrested “in the coming weeks” in downtown Los Angeles, prosecutors said.
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