A WEST HOLLYWOOD ANTIQUES DEALER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SELLING A PHONY PICASSO FOR AN ESTIMATED $2 MILLION. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAID FRIDAY THAT THE 69 YEAR OLD TATIANA KHAN WAS CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD AND OTHER CRIMES. SHE'S FREE PENDING ARRAIGNMENT BUT COULD FACE 45 YEARS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED. PROSECUTORS CONTEND KHAN PAID AN ARTIST $1,000 IN 2006 TO DUPLICATE A PABLO PICASSO PASTEL CALLED 'THE WOMAN IN THE BLUE HAT' AND SOLD THE FORGERY. THE FBI STEPPED IN LAST YEAR AFTER THE BUYER HAD THE WORK EXAMINED AND LEARNED IT WAS A FAKE. ON FRIDAY, FBI AGENTS SEIZED A GENUINE WILLEM DE KOONING FROM KHAN. AUTHORITIES CLAIM SHE BOUGHT IT FOR $720,000 USING PROCEEDS FROM THE PICASSO SALE.
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