Daniel Elie Bouaziz Indicted on Charges Related to Art Forgery Scheme – RisePEI
Disgraced Florida artwork seller Daniel Elie Bouaziz has been indicted on prices of wire fraud, mail fraud, and cash laundering for allegedly peddling reproductions of works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Banksy, amongst different outstanding artists, as originals.
Bouaziz was arrested in Could for his alleged involvement within the operation, following an F.B.I. raid of one in every of his Palm Seaside galleries, Danieli Advantageous Artwork, in December 2021.
Bouaziz faces as much as 20 years in jail and a tremendous of $500,000 if he’s convicted on the 4 prices.
Bouzaiz additionally owns Galerie Danieli on Value Avenue, a well-liked vacation spot for outposts of blue-chip galleries. The F.B.I. indictment states that the fraudulent artwork offered from Bouaziz’s enterprises was initially listed on on-line public sale websites at low costs; Bouaziz purchased them and marketed them as originals. He supplied deceptive provenance paperwork to create the looks of authenticity, in addition to “false assertions and value determinations”, according to the indictment, with a stamped signature block that learn “Daniel Bouaziz, Licensed Worldwide Advantageous Artwork Appraiser.”
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Among the many the fraudulent works believed to have been offered by the Algeria-born French artwork seller was a “Basquiat” that he purchased on LiveAuctioneers for $495, authorities stated. The seller allegedly flipped the work to an undercover FBI agent for $12 million. A member of the Basquiat property’s since-disbanded authentication committee recognized the work as a pretend, based on the criminal complaint affidavit.
Bouaziz can also be accused of getting offered a Roy Lichtenstein print to an secret agent for $25,000. A comparability of the copy with a picture of the unique within the artist’s catalogue raisonné revealed a number of obvious variations within the coloration schemes.
The authorities grew to become concerned after purchasers of Bouaziz began to demand their funds again, with no success.
“Different victims, who additionally reported considerations to Bouaziz in regards to the authenticity of their bought work, each earlier than and after the execution of the gallery search warrants, acquired some reimbursement from Bouaziz,” the grievance stated.
