Leslie Howard Roberts, a Florida art dealer, was arrested for selling fake works as originals by Andy Warhol. Roberts and an accomplice were charged with wire fraud and money laundering in an 11-count indictment. The FBI raided Roberts’ gallery and seized art allegedly passed off as authentic Warhol pieces. Roberts used fake identification numbers and stamps to create the appearance of authenticity. The indictment also alleges that Roberts’ accomplice lied about being an employee of a New York-based auction company to authenticate the artwork. Wire fraud charges stemmed from payments totaling nearly $600,000 from one victim and a $60,000 transfer from another. Money laundering allegations involved bank transfers of $150,000, $50,000, and $40,000 between December 19 and 28 of 2023. Roberts’ attorney did not respond to requests for comment, while Melendez’s attorney stated that his client maintains his innocence. Both defendants are looking forward to presenting their case in court.
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