Published May 06, 2013
Associated Press
MINEOLA, N.Y. – A Pennsylvania man faces larceny, money laundering and other charges stemming from the alleged theft of six art works including a Pablo Picasso etching from a suburban New York City estate.
Brooklyn and Long Island prosecutors announced the indictment Monday of Joselito Vega, of Easton, Pa.
They say Vega was working as a painter in March 2011 at an estate in Kings Point, N.Y., where three paintings were later reported missing.
Investigators tracked one of the stolen paintings to an art gallery in Oakland, Calif., where it sold for $8,500.
Detectives set up a sting at the estate and Vega was arrested last month after allegedly stealing three more works, including the Picasso.
He is being held on $1 million bond. A listing for his attorney could not be found.
