[MSN] Con man indicted for theft of Degas statue.

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Con man indicted for theft of Degas statue

NEW YORK, July 19 (UPI) -- An alleged con artist is on trial for the theft
of a $600,000 Degas bronze statue from a 73-year-old New York art collector
who mistook him for a connoisseur.

Tom Doyle, 48, was introduced two years ago to Norman Alexander, a retired
businessman with an extensive collection of 20th century art, The New York
Times reported.

Doyle had a credible business card identifying him as a descendant of Lord
Duveen of Millbank, who dominated the world art market during the 1920s. He
also seemed knowledgeable about art, and convinced Alexander to allow him to
get a bronze statue by Degas appraised.

In fact, Doyle had served two years in prison after having been convicted of
transporting stolen goods across state lines. Officials said Doyle had
stolen $200,000 in jewelry from a Tennessee woman. He arrived in New York in
2001 after skipping parole in Kansas.

Doyle took the Degas statue and sold it to a Manhattan art gallery for
$225,000, a fraction of its actual value. The statue has changed hands three
times and was last purchased by a Hong Kong buyer.

Alexander hopes to recover his artwork, the newspaper said.