A Las Vegas appraiser of high-end artwork testified Monday in a federal courtroom that he took his cues from then-New Orleans policeman Christian Claus when he inflated values for a slate of paintings reported stolen from the Lakeview home of well-known restaurateur Fouad Zeton.
Prosecutors say Claus, a former Las Vegas attorney who moved to New Orleans and became a patrol officer, convinced Zeton to report 12 paintings stolen in October 2019. He promised to use his friendship with Michael Schofield, an artist of 50 years, and his position on the police force to secure a hefty insurance claim.
In exchange, Zeton promised a kickback from the payout and pledged to use his political connections to advance Claus’ career…