Date: 08-10-2021

Case Style:

United States of America v. Jason Harrington

Case Number: 21-CR-1184-JLS

Judge: Janis L. Sammartino

Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of California (San Diego County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description: San Diego, California criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with selling forged art.

Jason Harrington admitted that he sold $1.1 million of forged art. Harrington sold artwork purportedly created by Richard Hambleton – a New York City artist who rose to fame in the 1980s and whose paintings routinely sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In his plea agreement, Harrington admitted selling forged art to at least fifteen galleries and individuals between 2018 and 2020. The forged art included paintings of a black-silhouetted figure known as the Shadowman, which was a recurring motif in Hambleton’s works.

Hambleton horse art

Hambleton Shadowman art No1

Hambleton Shadowman art No2

(Pictures of Harrington’s forgeries in progress, which featured Hambleton’s Shadowman.)


To make the forged art appear authentic, Harrington lied to prospective buyers regarding the provenance of the art. To support these false statements, Harrington provided prospective buyers with a fake letter purportedly signed by the individual who obtained the art and, on one occasion, instructed an individual to speak with a prospective buyer and falsely claim to have obtained the art from Hambleton. According to court records, Harrington altered images, using publicly available photographs of Hambleton, to make it appear that the individual who purportedly obtained the art knew Hambleton.

Harrington also admitted to attempting to sell at least one forged painting purporting to be from the noted portraitist Barkley Hendricks. According to court records, Harrington falsely claimed to the owner of an art gallery that he inherited the painting from his uncle. The art gallery, however, refused to purchase the painting after Hendricks’ widow viewed the painting and determined it was a forgery.

Hambleton Art Forgery

Hambleton Art Forgery No2

Hambleton Art Forgery No3


(A series of photographs obtained by law enforcement from Harrington’s files depict the forgery in progress.)


“Forged artwork harms investors, corrupts the integrity of the art market, and damages the historical-cultural record,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “This case reflects the federal government’s full commitment to effectively investigate and prosecute complex art fraud crimes.” Grossman commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Galvin and the FBI agents who handled this matter.
“Mr. Harrington created multiple fake paintings, devised elaborate cover stories to authenticate them, targeted unsuspecting buyers, and sold over a million dollars of forged artwork,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “Fraudulent and forged artwork degrades the integrity and trust within the art community and today’s guilty plea should send a clear message - the FBI will aggressively pursue those who use fraud schemes to make a living, regardless of the type of instrument used to commit the fraud.”

Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum penalty: 20 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine

Outcome: 08/09/2021 29 CONSENT TO RULE 11 PLEA before Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Butcher by Jason Harrington. (tcf) (Entered: 08/09/2021)
08/09/2021 30 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Jason Harrington. (Attachments: # 1 Restitution Addendum) (tcf) (Entered: 08/09/2021)
08/09/2021 31 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Butcher: Change of Plea Hearing as to Jason Harrington held on 8/9/2021. Plea Tendered by Jason Harrington Guilty on counts 1 of Information. PSR Ordered. All pending motions withdrawn; Pending hearing dates vacated. Any objections to Findings due within 14 days( Sentence With PSR set for 10/22/2021 09:00 AM before Judge Janis L. Sammartino.) (CD# 8/9/2021 DEB 21 2:04-2:24). (Plaintiff Attorney Francisco Nagel AUSA-S/A). (Defendant Attorney Jeremy Warren FD). (acc) (Entered: 08/09/2021)
08/09/2021 32 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge upon a Tendered Plea of Guilty as to Jason Harrington: Recommending that the district judge accept the defendant's plea of guilty. Signed by Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Butcher on 8/9/2021. (tcf) (Entered: 08/09/2021)

Defendant pleaded guilty.

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Defendant's Experts:

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