A former Beverly Hills resident and owner of an L.A. pawnshop has been accused of attempting to sell stolen art and lying to federal agents about the scheme, authorities announced. Glenn Steven Bednarsh, 58, who now resides in Farmington, Mich., has been charged with knowingly purchasing a stolen Warhol trial proof depicting Soviet Union leader Vladimir Lenin in February 2021 for $6,000. Bednarsh then attempted to sell the piece to a Dallas-based auction house, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office.
The trial proof, No. 44 of only 46 produced by the pop artist, is estimated to be worth $175,000. Bednarsh is facing a two-count federal grand jury indictment for conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen goods.
Authorities allege he enlisted the help of Brian Alec Light, 58, of Hudson, Ohio, and formerly of downtown Los Angeles, to facilitate the sale of the stolen art. Light contacted the auction house in March 2021, and Bednarsh transported the artwork to its Beverly Hills office before it was shipped to Dallas.
Former resident charged with stolen Warhol
The auction house and pawnshop involved have not been named by officials. An employee at the auction house in Dallas reached out to a West Hollywood art gallery for its opinion on the artwork. The gallery recognized the piece as stolen and alerted both the auction house and the FBI, according to court documents.
Light is also accused of lying to FBI agents, claiming he bought the piece at a garage sale in Culver City for $18,000 and provided a fake receipt for the transaction. During the investigation in August and September 2021, Bednarsh allegedly misled FBI agents by stating that Light asked him to store the artwork without any intent of financial gain. The artwork was stolen by an unknown thief from the victim’s L.A. County home in early 2021 and then brought to Bednarsh’s pawnshop days later.
This case adds to the list of high-profile art thefts involving Andy Warhol’s works. Brian Alec Light pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods in November 2024 and faces up to 10 years in federal prison, with sentencing set for May 27. Bednarsh is expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks in the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
