La Mesa
A judge has sternly warned a La Mesa art dealer who sold forgeries of paintings by the late Olaf Wieghorst that he had better come up with $100,000 in restitution for victims or he will go to prison.
The sentencing of Louis Almeida, 49, was delayed again Monday for 40 days, until Sept. 26, at his attorneys’ request so he can obtain more money to repay the victims.
Almeida pleaded guilty April 18 to six counts of grand theft in connection with selling counterfeit copies of paintings by the famed Western artist, who died April 27, 1988 in El Cajon at age 88.
Almeida was jailed by San Diego Municipal Judge H. Ronald Domnitz on July 20 after the prosecutor said Almeida was a risk to flee. But Almeida was released on $75,000 bail.
“There’s only one thing that’s going to save Mr. Almeida, and that’s full restitution,” said the judge during the hearing. “I’m not too optimistic. The efforts so far are pretty slim.”
Leif Tessem, Almeida’s attorney, estimated the loss to art buyers at $130,000, but the district attorney’s office maintains it was closer to $250,000.
The judge said that, if Almeida comes up with a substantial amount of restitution, he may not impose a prison sentence.
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