[MSN] US. Warhol found in Aspen after 17 years

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Warhol found in Aspen after 17 years

Authorities recover artist’s Ali painting from owner’s ex-wife

	

Joel Stonington
Vail, CO Colorado
May 10, 2007

ASPEN —The journey of an Andy Warhol painting presumed stolen between 
1989 and 1990 ended last week when Aspen police and FBI art-theft 
investigators tracked it down.

The painting, a 3-by-4-foot depiction of heavyweight boxing icon 
Muhammad Ali, is valued at $100,000 to $120,000, according to records 
police released Wednesday.

The records, from Aspen detective Eric Ross, state that Alan Finkelstein 
of New York reported the painting stolen to New York police in 1990.

The grand larceny case went dry until local art dealer Christy Lee Pope 
listed the Warhol on www.artnet.com <http://www.artnet.com> on April 7, 
police records show.

Ross quickly enlisted the help of the FBI and its art theft unit. On 
April 16, Ross met with an FBI agent and looked through Pope’s house 
with permission of a property manager.

They did not find the painting in the house but later contacted her by 
phone. She told them that Jeff Liddington, the owner of the CTS 
limousine service in Aspen, had asked her to list the painting for some 
friends, documents state.

Shortly after Pope listed the painting, however, Liddington had called 
her and asked to take the painting off, she said, according to police 
documents.

On April 26, the FBI agent and Ross interviewed Liddington about the 
Warhol. Though Liddington originally told them he didn’t think the 
painting was stolen, he eventually admitted it might be the case and 
told them to go talk to the owner, Alan Finkelstein, records said.

According to the documents, Liddington said he was told the painting 
actually belonged to Finkelstein’s ex-wife, Janice (last name not in 
documents). He said he had not ever met Janice and that a friend had 
asked him to sell the painting for a commission of $6,000 on the sale.

However, he said he got suspicious that the painting might have been 
stolen when his friend, acting for the ex-wife, asked him to take the 
painting off the Internet.

The 17-year saga ended with a single phone call, documents state. 
Finkelstein got a call from his ex-wife on May 1 in which she said the 
painting was part of a divorce settlement, he disagreed and she said she 
would return the Warhol to him.

On May 2, Finkelstein’s son picked the painting up from Janice in order 
to bring it back to his father. At that point, Finkelstein dropped 
criminal charges and said he did not want to pursue any further 
investigation.

The case was closed the same day.

http://www.vaildaily.com