Miami Art Dealer Sentenced for Selling Fake Warhols

Leslie Howard Roberts, 63, has been sentenced to three years and 10 months in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme to sell fake Andy Warhol artworks ^[1]. The Miami Fine Art Gallery owner was arrested in April 2025 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He must repay nearly $2.6 million in illicit earnings.

Prosecutors revealed Roberts falsely claimed the artworks were acquired directly from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, a claim unsupported by any records ^[1]. He also provided fraudulent invoices to bolster the illusion of authenticity.

In coordination with the scheme, Carlos Rodriguez Melendez impersonated a representative of a New York-based auction company to lend false credibility to the forged artworks ^[1]. Rodriguez Melendez pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to probation.

This is not the first time a South Florida art dealer has been punished for Warhol fraud. In 2023, Daniel Elie Bouaziz, who ran two galleries in Palm Beach County, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering, with 16 other fraud and embezzlement charges dropped ^[1].

Andy Warhol, the iconic American visual artist and filmmaker, is best known for his work in the 1960s pop art movement ^[1]. His legacy continues to draw both admiration and exploitation in the art market.

The case highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in the high-value art world, where trust in dealers and provenance can be easily manipulated ^[1]. Federal prosecutors emphasized that Roberts exploited the confidence of collectors who rely on authenticity.

What happens next is the full recovery of the $2.6 million in restitution, which will be pursued through asset forfeiture and financial tracking ^[1]. The case also raises broader questions about authentication practices and oversight in the art market.