Art for Drugs Dealer Competent to Stand Trial

Apparently even drug dealers are accepting stolen art. Last March, Bronislaw “Bruno” Nestir was arrested and charged with larceny, possession of guns and narcotics, and selling drugs. Police say he was receiving stolen paintings from an art thief and doling out bags of heroin in return. The 39 paintings—including some from Yale’s Slifka Center and the Free Public Library—were recovered.

After  his arrest, there were questions as to Nestir’s mental competency to stand trial, and yesterday, Judge Roland Fasano accepted the findings of a report on Bruno’s mental competency to stand trial. He ruled that Bruno is competent and released him on a promise to appear again in court on June 3.

Via The New Haven Independent.

Tags: art crime, Art Law, art theft, drugs and art, stolen paintings