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12-Year Prison Sentence for $23 Million Sports Memorabilia Fraud Scheme

As reported in the Chicago Tribune (“Collector given 12 years in prison for selling phony sports memorabilia“), John Rogers of Arkansas received a long sentence following his 45-minute statement to the court asking for leniency, at one point stating “I don’t deserve a break, but I’m asking you for one”.  Rogers plead guilty to one count of wire fraud in March.  Judge Dirkin said his fraud scheme was “breathtaking” and that Rogers “literally told thousands of lies to honest people to have them part with their money”. [Read more…]

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Art Dealers Plead Guilty to Crimes Involving Misrepresentation & Fraudulant COAs

Rick Spector of Stairway to the Stars directed me to an interesting article on the Maine Antique Digest website about art dealers who have plead guilty to a scheme involving their passing off art with manufactured origins, fictitious artist names and identities, and fraudulent certificates of authenticity (COAs).  [Read more…]

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U.S. Department of Justice Announces Indictments in “$5 Million Dollar International Fraud Scheme”

Breaking news in the art world follows an announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice involving indictments against seven defendants in their alleged roles in selling $5 million in counterfeit art prints.

Reuters reports that (“Thousands Stuck with Fake Art Prints – U.S. Prosecutor“) that “[a] ring of art counterfeiters has sold thousands of prints since 1999 bearing the forged signatures of Picasso, Miro, Dali and other famous artists to buyers around the world”. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald stating that “[t]housands of people will learn they… bought a fake”. [Read more…]