Foundry owner accused of faking Jasper Johns sculpture

Written by Associated Press

Monday, 19 November 2012 12:05

NEW YORK (AP) – A New York foundry owner has been arrested on a charge he tried to sell a fake Jasper Johns sculpture for $11 million.

The U.S. attorney's office says in 1990 the well-known American artist provided Brian Ramnarine with a mold for a famous 1960 sculpture called Flag to make a wax cast. Prosecutors say Ramnarine made the cast but never returned the mold.

Court documents say 20 years later Ramnarine tried to sell a bronze flag made from the original mold without the artist's knowledge and using the artist's forged signature.

Ramnarine was arrested at his Queens home on Thursday. He has been indicted on a charge of wire fraud and would face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Attempts to contact Ramnarine were unsuccessful.

AP-WF-11-16-12 0434GMT