A South Florida art dealer with a history of legal troubles is once again facing federal charges. Prosecutors have indicted Leslie Roberts, also known as Les Roberts, following an FBI raid on his art gallery in Miami’s Coconut Grove area. Roberts, aged 62, stands accused of selling counterfeit paintings purported to be by the famed artist Andy Warhol at the Miami Fine Art Gallery, located at 3180 Commodore Plaza. During the raid, agents removed several paintings from the premises.
Roberts now faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering in a Miami federal court. Additionally, he is already embroiled in a civil lawsuit related to the alleged sale of fake Warhol artworks. Alongside Roberts, Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez, a 37-year-old from Sunny Isles Beach, is also charged with wire fraud conspiracy.
Although court documents remained sealed as of Thursday, federal prosecutors revealed that Roberts allegedly misled buyers by claiming the artworks were obtained directly from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, providing them with fictitious invoices. Meanwhile, Rodriguez Melendez allegedly posed as an employee of a New York-based auction company to falsely authenticate the artwork, further concealing its counterfeit nature.
Authorities have also accused Roberts of engaging in fraudulent money laundering activities, involving the transfer of $150,000, $40,000, and $50,000 from the Miami Fine Art Gallery’s bank account to a personal account. Both individuals were arrested on Wednesday and have since appeared in federal court, where they were released on bond.
This is not Roberts’ first encounter with federal law enforcement. Previously, he pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 2015 for selling fake paintings. Additionally, in the late 1980s, he was convicted of defrauding his uncle in a multimillion-dollar stock scheme, resulting in time served in federal prison for both offenses. In the current case, Roberts faces up to 30 years in prison, while Rodriguez Melendez could face up to 20 years.
Beyond the Surface
The recent legal actions against Leslie Roberts and Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez highlight ongoing challenges in the art world, particularly concerning the authenticity of high-value works. For art collectors and enthusiasts, this situation underscores the importance of due diligence when purchasing art pieces to avoid financial loss and potential legal issues.
For the Miami art community, these developments may have wider implications. They could lead to heightened scrutiny of local galleries and dealers, potentially affecting their reputations and business operations. Consumers may become more cautious, seeking verified authenticity and provenance documentation before making art purchases, influencing the market dynamics and trust between buyers and sellers.