Two local art dealers face jail time after prosecutors say the couple passed off overseas artwork as the work of local and regional artists.
According to federal investigators, Christopher Breithoff and his mother Constance Breithoff, of Covington, operated the Barlow Art Gallery in the 800 block of the French Quarter, as well as a similar art gallery in Mandeville.
Prosecutors say that for years, the two have purchased paintings in bulk from China, and would then resell them as original works of local artists.
Two mother-and-son art crime spree came to an end after an investigation by the FBI.
Investigators found that the Breithoffs would invent fictional artist identities, biographies, and unique signatures to mask the true nature and origin of the Chinese paintings.
Constance Breithoff went so far as to paint over any existing signatures on the Chinese artwork, then paint the bogus artists' unique "signature" on the painting.
Christopher Breithoff received 21 months in prison; his mother faces 18 months in prison.
Judge Eldon Fallon also ordered the two to repay nearly $1 million in restitution to the victims of the scam.
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