Massachusetts

Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Forging Museum Artifact

A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to forging an artifact that ended up in a Connecticut museum.

Harold Gordon faces up to 20 years in prison after entering his plea Tuesday to wire fraud.

Prosecutors say the 69-year-old turned a plain writing desk into the "Bingham Family Civil War Memorial Secretary" and sold it to an antiques dealer for $64,500.

The piece was said to be a gift given to a Civil War veteran in honor of his brother who was killed in the Battle of Antietam.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art purchased the piece at a New York antiques show in 2015.

Gordon says he sold the piece because he needed the money.

The museum said it has been offered a full refund.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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