Actor Robert De Niro was in court yesterday testifying against a gallery director accused of pocketing $77,000 from the sale of his father's paintings. Salander-O'Reilly Galleries owner Lawrence Salander was already sentenced to six years in prison for the $120 million fraud scheme over the summer, but De Niro claimed that gallery director Leigh Morse stole two of his father's paintings and sold them, pocketing the profits for herself.
De Niro Testifies About Art Theft Case, Gets Mixed Reviews
Scheming, Fraudulent Art Dealer Sentenced To 6 Years
Lawrence Salander, the art dealer who pleaded guilty to a $120 million fraud involving works of art and celebrity clients like John McEnroe, was sentenced to six years in prison yesterday. His lawyer revealed that his current wife (the mother of their four boys) left him and Salander sobbed in court, "I've lost my life, my business and my reputation. I'm utterly and completely disgraced."
Art Dealer Pleads Guilty, Attempts To Repay $120 Million
Former gallery owner Lawrence Salander, who faced 100 counts including grand larceny for his art world scams, is pleading guilty to his $120 million fraud. He accepted the deal "in exchange for a promise of no more than 6 to 18 years behind bars."
Manhattan Art Dealer Charged With Running $88 Million Scam
Over a year after clients sued him and his gallery was closed, art dealer Lawrence Salander was indicted on 100 counts, including grand larceny, falsifying business records, scheming to defraud, and forgery, related to allegedly running an $88 million scam from his Upper East Side gallery.

