Man Sentenced to Life in Hit on Art Dealer Husband

Man Sentenced to Life in Hit on Art Dealer Husband

A Manhattan art dealer was stabbed 18 times in his sleep. Now the husband who paid for the hit will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Daniel Sikkema, 56, of New York, was sentenced to life in federal prison on Wednesday, Nov. 4, for orchestrating the murder of his estranged husband, Brent Sikkema. A jury convicted him in May of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country.

Brent Sikkema, 75, co-founded the Chelsea gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Co. He was killed on Jan. 14, 2024, at his home in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian authorities arrested the couple’s former security guard, Alejandro Triana Prevez, days later with stolen cash and jewelry. Prevez told authorities Daniel Sikkema had paid him. His case is still pending in Brazil.

Prosecutors say the plot took shape in 2023 during a bitter divorce. Sikkema allegedly sent 11 payments to Prevez and to Prevez’s romantic interest in Cuba, using the identities of unwitting friends, employees and family members to hide the money trail. Minutes after the killing, Prevez called Sikkema several times on a secret phone line, according to TrueCrimeNews.

U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald called it “a cold, calculated murder-for-hire plot” driven by greed. At trial, the defense argued the killing happened during a robbery, and that the money sent to Prevez was back pay for work in Cuba.

Sikkema maintains his innocence, and his attorney says he plans to appeal.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.