An art dealer ex of a Made in Chelsea star faces 20 years in a US prison over a £16 million scam.
Inigo Philipbrick, 34 years old, confessed to conniving investors of many millions of pounds. He told a judge that it was all for the money.
After the “serial swindler” was discovered in November 2019, the man failed to show up for his court hearings in London and Miami. He also owns art galleries in Miami. Before he was finally arrested by the FBI, he was taken into custody on Vanuatu.
An indictment was filed that Philbrick used a lucrative scheme to finance his luxurious lifestyle. Philbrick also appeared at the court as an expert regarding art business conferences, and his Mayfair offices, which are located on Grosvenor Street.
He also has a baby with Made in Chelsea’s Victoria Baker-Harber, whom he began dating in 2017.
Gaia was born to his then-partner in November 2013. The Made in Chelsea socialite uploaded pictures from her first birthday via Instagram earlier in this month.
Inigo Philbrick pictured with former partner Victoria Baker-Harber, of Made in Chelsea fame, whom he had a baby with last year
Philbrick (pictured) admitted to defrauding investors out of millions and said that it was all done ‘for money’.
Philbrick (right), at the Galerie Patrick Seguin London’s Jean Royere Opening on February 25, 2016,
Philbrick was charged with selling art to several investors. Sometimes, he would sell them at an inflated price in order get the money to buy another. This is according to The Telegraph.
It was alleged he resold an artwork for £4.1m in 2019, only for one person to claim they held 100 per cent of it and another two 50 per cent each.
The police caught up with him in November 2019. He fled the US.
Ms Baker Harber, who was unaware of his whereabouts seven months after he was detained on the isolated island, was not even informed.
He was reportedly looking for souvenirs at the beach when he was stopped by police.
Philbrick plead guilty Thursday at the New York Southern District Court to Federal Wire Fraud Charges and is now facing a maximum sentence in prison of 20 Years.
He was also ordered to forfeit more than £63.9m.
Jude Stein asked Philbrick why he did the crime. He replied, “For the money and your honor.”
Jeffery Lichtman, Philbrick’s attorney, added: ‘It’s a sad day for Inigo, but he’s happy to put this behind him
‘The industry is corrupt from top to bottom. Inigo isn’t the cause here, he’s a symptom. This is just one of many cases that I believe would be possible if more was done to investigate the art industry.
‘While his actions were dishonest and criminal in nature, he’s part of an industry sick from top to bottom where this sort of behaviour is sadly commonplace.
“He apologises for his actions and promises to do everything he can to help them heal.”
Ms Baker Harber showing off her bump after giving birth on November 1, 2020 to Gaia
Ms Baker-Harber posted pictured to her Instagram celebrating daughter Gaia’s first birthday earlier this month
Philbrick lived in Grosvenor Street Mayfair, where he had his registered office. Art dealer Philbrick lived an extravagant lifestyle.
The US Attorney Damian Williams, however, referred to Philbrick simply as a serial swindler that took advantage of art markets.
His scam involved several works, including a 1982 Jean-Michel Basquiat painting called Humidity and a 2010 untitled Christopher Wool painting. Rudolf Stingel’s 2012 untitled Rudolf Stingel painting depicting Pablo Picasso.
Philbrick will be back in court on March 18th, 2022 for his sentencing.
Born in Connecticut, the fraudster rose to fame in the industry when he moved to London to study at Goldsmiths University of London aged 23.
Harry Philbrick was a well-respected former director of museums. Jane Philbrick is a Harvard-educated author and artist.
Philbrick was an intern at White Cube in London. He then became director of secondary market.
He opened Inigo Philbrick Gallery, Mayfair three years later.
He also has a daughter with former girlfriend and fellow art dealer Fran Mancini, who he was in a relationship with up until 2017.