Leslie Roberts, owner of Miami Fine Art Gallery, has been indicted for selling forged Andy Warhol artworks, leading to a significant FBI investigation and his arrest alongside associate Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez. The duo faces severe charges, including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering, which could result in decades of imprisonment. Affected collectors, including the Perlman family, accuse Roberts of deceiving them into purchasing fake pieces worth $6 million, further complicated by the manipulation of fraudulent expert appraisers. Roberts's reputation as a gallery owner is now tarnished due to these alleged fraudulent dealings.
"Roberts betrayed the Perlmans' trust and went to great lengths to cover up his fraud," Luke Nikas, the Perlman family's lawyer, tells The Art Newspaper.
The Perlmans realised they had been tricked into spending $6m on the fakes after a Christie's appraisal found that the works were forgeries.
This milestone underscored our gallery's dedication to curating exceptional works," says Roberts regarding his acquisition of rare art from the Andy Warhol Foundation.
Roberts and associate Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez were arrested and charged, facing up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy.
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