Florida Art Dealer Accused of Selling Fake Warhols in Alleged $240K Fraud Scheme

Two South Florida men are facing federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to sell forged Andy Warhol artwork to unsuspecting buyers. Authorities say Leslie Roberts, a 62-year-old Miami art dealer and owner of Miami Fine Art Gallery, misrepresented several pieces of art as authentic Warhol originals. Prosecutors allege that Roberts falsely claimed the pieces came directly from the Andy Warhol Foundation and used fraudulent invoices to support the sales.

Investigators also charged Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez, 37, of Sunny Isles, with participating in the conspiracy by pretending to work for a New York auction house to authenticate the fake artwork. According to the indictment, Roberts transferred at least $240,000 from his gallery’s account to his personal bank account as part of the scheme.

Both men appeared in federal court in Miami and were released on bond. Their arraignment hearing is scheduled for April 21. If convicted, Roberts faces up to 30 years in prison, while Rodriguez Melendez could face up to 20 years.

This case follows a similar incident from 2023 when another South Florida art dealer, Daniel Elie Bouaziz, was sentenced to over two years in prison for selling fake Warhol pieces in Palm Beach County.