Art dealer and accomplice charged for selling fake Andy Warhol masterpieces

In Miami, Florida, federal authorities arrested Leslie Roberts, 62, and Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez, 37, for allegedly perpetrating a scheme involving the sale of counterfeit Andy Warhol artworks. The arrests occurred on April 9, 2025, after an indictment was filed against Roberts, the owner of Miami Fine Art Gallery located in Coconut Grove, and Rodriguez Melendez, who falsely claimed to represent a New York auction house. The prosecution asserts that Roberts misrepresented forged artworks as genuine pieces by the iconic artist Andy Warhol, misleading victims with fraudulent invoices and claims of acquisition from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. According to the details released by federal officials, Roberts’s actions included providing fake documentation that falsely authenticated the artworks. In doing so, he orchestrated a methodical effort to deceive unsuspecting buyers within a high-stakes art market, where the value of originals can be substantial. Alongside the charges of art fraud, Roberts is also accused of money laundering; he allegedly transferred approximately $240,000 from his gallery's bank accounts into his personal accounts, secured from the proceeds of the fraud. The indictment highlights specific transactions that totaled $150,000, $40,000, and $50,000, which prosecutors assert were obtained illegally. As both individuals appeared in federal court, they were released on bond. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for April 21, 2025, where the legal proceedings regarding the fraud allegations will continue. If convicted, Roberts could face up to 30 years in prison for his involvement as the primary perpetrator, and Rodriguez Melendez faces up to 20 years for his role in the conspiracy. The case underscores the vulnerabilities in the art market and the potential for fraud, particularly regarding high-value and sought-after pieces like those created by Warhol, an influential figure in the pop art movement during the 1960s. Roberts was reportedly connected to previous fraudulent efforts that led to another individual, Daniel Elie Bouaziz, pleading guilty to money laundering charges related to art sales. Bouaziz had previously owned two galleries in Palm Beach County and faced a multitude of charges, with the majority dropped in a plea deal. This indicates a broader pattern of criminal activity within aspects of the fine art community in South Florida, raising alarms about the need for enhanced scrutiny and the potential consequences of such fraud on collectors and the market's integrity.