The FBI in Miami arrested two attackers who stole a picture of Matisse Automatic translate

Competent sources, represented by the authorized representative of the Southern Federal District of Florida, Wifredo A. Ferrer (Wifredo A. Ferrer) and executive operative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the District of Miami Jeffrey Mazanets (Jeffrey C. Mazanec), announced the arrest and indictment of another attackers of the art world. Pedro Antonio Marcello Guzman, 46, Miami, and Maria Marta Eliza Ornelas Lazo, 50, Mexico City, Mexico, are accused of transporting and forgery related to the original painting by Odis in Red Pants by Henri Matisse, which was stolen from a museum in Caracas, Venezuela. If the guilt is proved, then each of the accused faces a maximum term under this article - up to 10 years in prison.

Photographers take a picture of French artist Henri Matisse “Odalisque in Red Pants” on January 30, 2003 at the MACCSI Museum of Modern Art in Caracas. FBI agents managed to attack the track of the canvas stolen 10 years ago and estimated at $ 3 million. AFP PHOTO / Felix Gerardi

For the first time, Marcello Guzman and Ornelas Lazo appeared in court on Friday.

According to a sworn affidavit in support of the prosecution, the case was opened by the FBI during a secret investigation. The statement said that Marcello took up the sale of a painting by Matisse, stolen in December 2002 from the Caracas Museum of Modern Art. Tightly estimated at about $ 3 million. According to unconfirmed reports, Marcello during a meeting with conspiracy agents said that he knew that the painting was stolen and offered to buy it for 740 thousand dollars. During the negotiations, Marcello also agreed to transfer to the United States a painting with a courier from Mexico, where it was stored. The courier was identified as an accomplice of the attacker - Ornelas.

Based on the testimony, on July 16, 2012, Ornelas arrived at Miami International Airport from Mexico City, holding a red tube in her hands, where the picture lay. And on July 17, the accused Marcello and Ornelas met with conspiracy agents and removed Matisse’s picture “Odalisque in Red Pants” from the red case. Inspection of the canvas showed that it corresponds to the original Matisse, the theft of which was announced by the MACCSI Museum. At the end of the meeting, Marcello and Ornelas were arrested.

Mr. Ferre thanked the FBI investigators, and also thanked the attache of the Justice Department in Mexico City and the official representatives in Caracas and Mexico City. The case will be examined by Assistant Federal Attorney Eliza Castrolugo.

Pending a court decision, the presumption of innocence extends to the attackers.

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