A Greenwich art dealer was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for stealing more than $2 million from an elderly client and his estate.
David L. Johnson, 67, received the sentence Friday, Oct. 30, from U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford federal court. He also faces three years of supervised release, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan.
How the scheme worked
Johnson operated two Stamford-based businesses: Antique Treasures LLC and Greenwich Auction. Around October 2018, an elderly man executed a power of attorney, will and trust naming Johnson as his agent, executor and successor trustee, according to court documents and statements made in court.
Johnson was not a beneficiary.
The victim died at age 87 in August 2020. After the death, Johnson stole more than $436,000 from one of the victim's federal tax refund checks, Sullivan said. An investigation by the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division found Johnson stole a total of $2,168,719.24 from the victim and his estate.
At the time of Johnson's December 2025 indictment, Greenwich Time reported that the known theft included $436,000 from tax refund checks, $217,000 from an investment account and $308,000 from the proceeds of artwork sales belonging to the estate.
Guilty plea and restitution
Johnson pleaded guilty to money laundering on July 21. He had faced up to 20 years in prison.
Judge Shea ordered Johnson to pay $1,025,056.36 in restitution. Johnson had previously returned approximately $1.1 million in stolen funds, according to Sullivan's announcement.
Johnson is free on a $500,000 bond and must report to federal prison on Dec. 14.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Spears.
No public statement from Johnson or his defense attorney appeared in records released with the sentencing announcement.
Residents who suspect elder financial abuse can contact the Connecticut Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-888-385-4225.
