New York
Photo: AP
US charges Israeli man over stolen art
Solly Sinai, 53, posed as an art dealer, attempted to sell in New York $500,000 worth of items that were stolen from Paris in late 1990s
US authorities have charged an Israeli
man with attempting to sell art and antiques in New York City that had been stolen from Paris in the late 1990s.
Solly Sinai, 53, who posed as an art dealer, was arrested in January in Paris and is being held there by French authorities after he tried to sell the goods in New York in June 2000, according to an indictment unsealed on Thursday.
They were stolen in 1997 and 1998 from two antiques stores and a Paris residence. The items include Napoleonic-era pistols worth $500,000 and bronze sculptures by French artist Antoine-Louis Barye, the indictment said.
US authorities are seeking Sinai's extradition and charged him with six counts of interstate transportation of stolen property and receipt and sale of stolen property.
Sinai faces up to 10 years in prison for each count.
