New York City Graffiti Artist Facing 14 Criminal Counts

sergio  ||   19 April 2007

When graffiti was rampant in New York City during the 1980s, a Brooklyn teenager known as Alan Ket was at the top of his game. In broad strokes of aerosol spray, he slashed brash images on subway cars, branched out to vandalize trains in Europe, and became such a fixture in the flourishing graffiti culture that he was asked to speak at several universities.

Now, as graffiti has evolved into a popular art form, it is drawing both the outrage of public officials and the scrutiny of law enforcement authorities. And for the first time, Mr. Ket, whose graffiti work has been shown in galleries, is facing a serious legal gantlet.


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Relying on computer evidence seized from his Manhattan home last October, the district attorneys in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens have charged Mr. Ket under his real name, Alain Maridueña, with 14 criminal counts, including trespass, criminal mischief and making graffiti. If convicted, he could potentially face decades in prison and huge financial penalties.

For the full story, see Thursday, April 19th's New York Times article