Sports memorabilia dealer admits scamming collectors in bizarre, $350M fraud and forgery scheme

[General_Says_Tso]

"One of the largest sports collectibles forgery rings in the hobby has been busted in a bizarre fraud and forgery case that is still developing.
The Westfield (Ind.) Police Department raided two locations on Tuesday and Wednesday, loading semi-trucks with seized items. The department confirmed Wednesday night that it founded a dead body at one of the locations, but did not release the name of the individual.
Sports collectibles dealer Brett Lemieux published a post in the Facebook group Autographs 101 admitting to forging millions of athlete autographs and holograms over the past 20 years under the company name Mister Mancave.

“Mistermancave has sold over 4 million items. Yes million. Surpassed 350 million in sales,” Lemieux stated in his manifesto on Wednesday. - sportscollectorsdigest.com

 

[jmc855]

I m not understanding the online social media mea culpa post at all here...... something weird about all of it. But not shocked at all that most signed stuff bought and sold is totally fake .

 

[gt2590]

He did kill himself do that may explain the confession.

But he did HUGE numbers. Huge.

 

[gt2590]

He did kill himself do that may explain the confession.

But he did HUGE numbers. Huge.

 

[General_Says_Tso]

I m not understanding the online social media mea culpa post at all here...... something weird about all of it. But not shocked at all that most signed stuff bought and sold is totally fake .

It was weird, a mix of confession with bragging about it. I guess he wanted to show how clever he thought he was to the world.

 

[jmc855]

It was weird, a mix of confession with bragging about it. I guess he wanted to show how clever he thought he was to the world.

Guess so. Final parting shot and cleaning of the earthly slate, maybe.

 

[finestkind]

He was clever enough to get away with it for so long. Maybe karma finally caught up to him. I'm glad I never got into autographs and memorabilia.

 

[banjar]

This is fascinating. I wish he had written a book about it. And honestly, I don't doubt a word of what he says. This "hobby", er I mean "industry", er I mean "racket" is one of the dirtiest on earth. Thankfully it's not violent like drugs or weapons, but it's every bit as corrupt.