Ever been passing through the Grove and spotted a “diminutive, nattily dressed fellow with dark, bushy eyebrows and a conspicuous toupee”? If so, you may have seen Leslie Roberts, the man the Miami New Times describes as the “notorious” Miami art dealer.
Now a federal judge is looking for him.
Roberts, who previously pleaded guilty and served prison time for selling forged Peter Max works, was supposed to be in federal court last Friday for another sentencing. This time, he’s being sentenced for selling forged Andy Warhol works.
But he didn’t show up.
Judge Altman has continued the sentencing for a week while the government and Roberts’s lawyer try to find him.
The Warhol forgery scheme was quite elaborate. It even involved a co-conspirator posing as a “senior art appraisal authenticator” to authenticate the works. The guy reportedly showed up dressed in black and wearing white gloves and everything.
I’m sharing an article here that includes a picture of Roberts.
A friendly bit of advice: If you see him, exercise caution regarding any significant art purchases.
1 comment:
I don’t know. He looks like the real deal to me.
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