NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The massive trove of artwork arrivedin New Jersey last year from Texas on an
18-wheeler — its contents amystery.After five days of inventory, the haul proved to besignificant: more than
1,100 pieces of art, mostly works by some of thenation’s most influential photographers, including Alfred
Stieglitz andEdward Weston.The valuable shipment was moved again to New York,but instead of being carefully
exhibited in a home in Spain as planned,it ended up in the hands of federal authorities. By the end of
aninvestigation, authorities had seized more than 2,200 works of artappraised at nearly $16 million.On
Friday, the U.S. Attorney’sOffice in Newark announced a Feb. 22 court filing that alleges theartwork was
purchased with money collected in a scheme that sold fakecredits for renewable energy. The complaint seeks
to force the owner toforfeit the works.Authorities said they were seized from awarehouse in New York in July
weeks after being moved from Newark andreadied for shipment to Spain via Amsterdam. The works include
numerousprints by Stieglitz, including one of his famous artist wife, GeorgiaO’Keefe, that sold for
$675,000. An Edward Steichen print titled "GretaGarbo for Vanity Fair Hollywood" was purchased for
$75,000.Authoritiesallege the artworks’ owner, Philip Rivkin, used money fraudulentlyfunneled through his
Houston-based company, Green Diesel, to buy theart. Rivkin has not been formally charged with a crime.Kyle
Sampson, a lawyer for Rivkin, said Friday he was aware the forfeiture action was filed."Wehave not
received formal notice of the forfeiture action, but I amaware that a complaint has been filed," he
told The Associated Press."We’ve been working for some time with the EPA in an effort to resolvetheir
concerns and any other outstanding issues there may be."A lawyer for Green Diesel declined comment in
an email message.Rivkinwas owner and CEO of Green Diesel and a company called Fuel Streamers.Authorities
allege in the complaint that Rivkin and others claimed thecompanies produced, purchased and imported
renewable fuel. Butauthorities say the fuel did not exist.By federal standards, thenational stock of
gasoline and diesel must contain a certain percentageof renewable fuel. Authorities allege oil companies,
including Shell andExxon, have reported a total of $78 million in losses from buying fakerenewables from
Green Diesel.According to the complaint, anunnamed assistant for Rivkin told authorities that Rivkin
controlled allfinancial accounts. "Money would come in and he (Rivkin) would move itout," the
assistant told authorities.Authorities allege Rivkinused Green Diesel’s bank account and other accounts to
buy at least $18million in artwork. Rivkin tended to buy his photographs in groups,making it difficult to
trace individual purchases, but authorities saidthey have matched 1,590 pieces of art to one credit card and
four bankaccounts.In April 2012, the federal Environmental ProtectionAgency issued a notice of violation to
Green Diesel, alleging itimproperly generated credits that track and boost renewable fuelproduction.
Authorities claim Rivkin arranged to have the art shippedout the year before, after learning of the
investigation.An EPA spokesman did not return a call for comment.Accordingto the complaint, Rivkin’s
assistant said Rivkin started purchasingvintage photographs after receiving the "EPA money." Much
of the artworkwas shipped from Houston to Newark and eventually bound for Spain,authorities said.The
assistant traveled to Geneva and Barcelonawith Rivkin, the assistant told authorities. Rivkin stayed in
Spain andwhen the assistant returned to the U.S. noticed that Rivkin’s office wascleaned out and numerous
documents were shredded, authorities said.___Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill in Trenton contributed
to this story.___Follow Zezima at www.twitter.com/katiezezCopyright 2013 The
Associated Press.