Key Points
- Leslie Roberts, owner of the Miami Fine Art Gallery, accused of selling counterfeit Andy Warhol works.
- The FBI's Art Crimes Team raided Roberts' gallery, seizing artwork and evidence.
- Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez is also accused of his role in the falsification of the works.
- Roberts and Melendez made their initial court appearances and were released on bail.
A new scandal is rocking the hushed world of the Miami art market. At the heart of it: Leslie Roberts, 62, owner of the renowned Miami Fine Art Gallery in Coconut Grove. She is accused of selling fake works attributed to the iconic Andy Warhol in a sophisticated art fraud scheme that led to her federal indictment.
An elaborate scam
The federal charges paint a picture of a meticulously orchestrated fraud. Roberts, with the complicity of 37-year-old Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez, allegedly forged works and fabricated false authentication documents, purportedly issued by the Warhol Foundation—an entity that dissolved in 2011.
The heart of the scheme was the illusion that the works had been acquired directly from the Andy Warhol Foundation. Counterfeit invoices, stamps, and certificates were presented to buyers, including the Perlman family, who paid no less than $6 million before discovering the deception, thanks to Christie's.
Repeated deception and sophisticated methods
When confronted by the buyers, Roberts allegedly took the deception even further. Individuals posing as specialists from the Phillips auction house were sent to falsely validate the authenticity of the works. Rodriguez Melendez, for his part, allegedly posed as an employee of a New York auction house.
Federal investigators discovered that Roberts even transferred funds from the fraudulent sales—more than $200,000—to his personal accounts, adding money laundering charges to his case.
A troubled past that resurfaces
This isn't the first time Leslie Roberts has found herself in the crosshairs of the law. Already convicted in the 1980s for stealing millions from a family member, she was later found guilty in 2010 of selling fake works by Romero Britto. In 2015, she allegedly ran a counterfeiting ring for works attributed to Peter Max, with the alleged involvement of her own children.
Despite this background, Roberts managed to maintain her activity in the contemporary art world, until federal authorities—specifically the FBI in West Palm Beach—became involved again.
Both defendants were released on bail pending their arraignment hearing scheduled for April 21. Roberts faces up to 20 years in prison for fraud and an additional 10 years for money laundering. The case is being prosecuted by prosecutors Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman and Joshua Paster.
This case comes shortly after the conviction of another Florida art dealer, Daniel Elie Bouaziz, for similar offenses.
FAQ
Who is Leslie Roberts?
A 62-year-old art dealer who runs the Miami Fine Art Gallery has a long criminal record related to art fraud.
What is he accused of?
She is accused of wire fraud and money laundering for selling fake works attributed to Andy Warhol using falsified documents.
Who else is involved?
Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez, 37, is accused of participating in the scheme by posing as an art expert.
How much money was swindled?
One family alone, the Perlmans, is said to have paid $6 million for counterfeit works.
What are the penalties?
Up to 20 years in prison for fraud, plus an additional 10 years for money laundering.
Nicolas Sarazin