The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida art dealer who was accused of selling faux paintings by famous artists and claiming they were authentic has been indicted for the alleged offenses.
68-year-old Daniel Elie Bouaziz is from Paris, France, and he owns two art galleries in Palm Beach, Florida.
In 2021, the FBI opened an investigation into Bouaziz’s business dealings based on the assertion that he was ripping off his clients. They believed he was selling prints of original works by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Banksy, and Roy Lichtenstein and telling the customers that they were real. The authorities reported that Bouaziz provided the buyers fake provenances and authentications for the art pieces.
Some of the alleged deals made with clients included the selling of a $100 Warhol print for $85,000, and offering another client a Lichtenstein, a Matisse, and a Warhol, all purported to be faux, for $290,000.
Undercover agents posing as collectors went to Bouaziz, and the man allegedly sold them fake art pieces for exorbitant prices.
Some of the art sales Bouaziz allegedly made with the agents involved a Basquiat print that he allegedly purchased on LiveAuctioneers for $495. Bouaziz reportedly sold it to an undercover FBI agent for $12 million. He allegedly bought a Lichtenstein print for $485 and sold it to an agent for $25,000. A different agent was offered Rodrigue’s “Blue Dog” painting for $48,000, but the piece was allegedly a print purchased for $140.
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bouaziz, who was initially arrested in May, has now been charged by indictment with mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. If he is convicted, he could face 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.