A Greenwich antiques and art dealer pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal money laundering charge after stealing more than $2.1 million from an elderly client and his estate — a betrayal of trust that unraveled only after the victim had already died.

David L. Johnson, 66, was named agent, executor and successor trustee after the victim signed a power of attorney, will and trust in October 2018 — despite Johnson having no stake as a beneficiary of either the estate or the trust. It was a position built entirely on trust, and prosecutors say Johnson exploited it.

The victim died in August 2020 at age 87. Rather than stopping there, prosecutors say Johnson kept stealing — including more than $436,000 from one of the victim's federal tax refund checks. By the time investigators from the IRS Criminal Investigation Division finished tallying it up, the total theft reached $2,168,719.24.

Johnson ran two Stamford-based businesses, Antique Treasures LLC and Greenwich Auction, both of which have since closed. He's repaid roughly $1.1 million of the total so far, leaving well over $1 million still outstanding.

Johnson was arrested in December on a five-count federal indictment covering money laundering and theft charges, and has remained free on a $250,000 bond since. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell; prosecutors haven't detailed what happens to the remaining four counts.

Johnson faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing on Oct. 30. Anyone with information about financial crimes can contact the IRS Criminal Investigation Division tip line at 1-800-366-4484.