Italy 's ` ` Compotier et Rossi , '' valued at $ 11.5 million , was for sale in New York . The U.S. stopped its sale at the request of the Italian government . ` Restraining this valuable artwork is an effort to help recover some of the estimated $ 44 million that this couple stole from the tax-paying citizens of Naples , '' ICE Director John Morton said in a written statement . The would - be seller is accused of bilking the city of Rome of $ 10 million in tax revenue .
Italy 's ` ` Compotier et Rossi , '' valued at $ 11.5 million , was for sale in New York . The U.S. stopped its sale at the request of the Italian government . The would - be seller is accused of bilking the city of Rome of $ 10 million in tax revenue .