Gallerist Brent Sikkema's ex-husband is sentenced to life in prison in the US for having him killed in Rio

Daniel Sikkema was sentenced to life in prison in the United States this Wednesday (4). He was found guilty of planning and paying for the murder of gallerist Brent Sikkema.

The prosecution pointed out that Daniel hired Alejandro Triana Prevez to commit the murder during divorce proceedings. The crime was planned and financed by her ex-husband.

The Prosecutor's Office reported that Daniel made 11 payments to finance the plan. He used the names of friends, employees and relatives to hide the origin of the money.

The gallery owner was murdered with 18 stab wounds on January 14, 2024. The investigation had the collaboration of the FBI and Brazilian police authorities.

Daniel Sikkema, ex-husband of American gallerist Brent Sikkema, was sentenced to life in prison in the United States for planning and paying for the murder of the art dealer, stabbed to death in January 2024, in Jardim Botânico, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.

The sentence was announced on Wednesday (4) by the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York. Daniel, 56, had been found guilty in May this year of the crimes of contract murder, conspiracy to commit contract murder and conspiracy to commit a murder in another country.

According to the indictment, Daniel hired Cuban Alejandro Triana Prevez to kill Brent in the midst of a turbulent divorce process. The American court concluded that Daniel planned and financed the crime.

According to the United States Attorney's Office, Daniel began arranging the murder with Prevez in 2023. To finance the plan, he made 11 payments to himself and a person with whom Prevez had a relationship in Cuba.

According to the accusation, Daniel used the names of friends, employees and relatives, without their knowledge, to hide the origin of the payments.

Brent Sikkema, 75, was a prominent New York gallerist and founder of the Sikkema Jenkins gallery, known for representing artists such as Vik Muniz and Kara Walker. He used to stay in a residence he had in Rio.

The crime

Brent was murdered at home on January 14, 2024. According to the accusation filed in the United States, Prevez stabbed the gallery owner 18 times.

The American prosecutor's office stated that, minutes after the crime, Prevez called Daniel several times through a secret number they used to communicate about the plan.

Shortly after the murder, Daniel secretly sent $5,000 to Prevez, according to the indictment, and promised other payments.

Prevez was arrested by Brazilian police 4 days after the crime. The case against him is still ongoing in Brazilian justice.

In a statement previously cited by g1, Prevez stated that he received US$9,000 to commit the murder. Daniel's defense maintained during the trial in the United States that the payments referred to work carried out by Prevez.

Conviction in the USA

Daniel Sikkema was found guilty by a federal jury on May 22 after a 2-week trial in New York.

At the time, Assistant Federal Prosecutor Meredith Foster told jurors that Daniel had “ordered and paid for her husband's murder” and manipulated other people to carry out the plan.

Before the trial, the defense said that Daniel was innocent. After the verdict, his legal team did not say whether he would appeal.

The American investigation had the participation of the FBI and the collaboration of Brazilian authorities, including the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro and the Federal Public Ministry in the state.