Mary Boone sentenced to 30 months for tax fraud, closes galleries after 49-year career

New York gallerist Mary Boone received a 30-month prison sentence for tax evasion, with Judge Hellerstein also ordering one year of supervised release and 180 hours of community service. She pleaded guilty in September to filing false tax returns that concealed substantial profits. While her 2012 tax return showed a $52,000 loss, government investigators from the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit discovered actual profits of $3.7 million. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman characterized Boone's tax filings as 'more a work of impressionism than realism,' describing them as 'a palette of lies and misrepresentations' designed to avoid over $3 million in taxes. Boone must report to prison by May 1, prompting the closure of her gallery's two spaces. Current exhibitions featuring Julia Wachtel and Derrick Adams will be the final shows. In a statement to Art News, Boone reflected on her 49-year career, expressing hope to handle her situation with the same 'humility, humor, grace, and intelligence' as Martha Stewart. Her gallery represented notable artists including Barbara Kruger, Barry La Va, Robert Barry, and Ai Weiwei. The announcement was updated on February 27, 2019.