Loopy information popping out of Westfield, Ind., because it’s being reported {that a} well-known sports activities memorabilia seller took his personal life after confessing to shifting a whole bunch of tens of millions of {dollars} price of counterfeit merchandise.
In response to The New York Put up, 45-year-old Brett Lemieux was discovered useless from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after authorities went to his handle to hold out a search warrant following an 1200-word confession wherein Lemieux admitted to scamming his prospects to the tune of $350 million. Stating that he had bought greater than 4 million counterfeit sports activities memorabilia on a prolonged Fb publish, Lemieux apparently took his personal life not too lengthy after confessing his multi-million greenback sin, in response to police investigating the case.
The New York Put up studies:
Lemieux was in a position to pull off the alleged large-scale counterfeit scheme by faking holograms, authentication stickers for sports activities collectibles, of a number of the most distinguished firms in sports activities memorabilia: Panini, Fanatics, Tri-Star, James Spence Authentics, Mill Creek Sports activities and GT Advertising and marketing, amongst others.
Lemieux would use the faux holograms to promote counterfeit memorabilia at a far lower cost than market, and he profited handsomely off that tactic.
Within the Fb publish, Lemieux stated he launched 80,000 items of memorabilia into the market when Kobe Bryant died in 2020.
He famous that he thought of stopping along with his operation, however that the cash was “too good.”
Apparently sufficient, Lemieux developed a popularity for making faux memorabilia and was nonetheless in a position to financial institution off his counterfeit items. That shouldn’t be too stunning although, as the person’s operation was straight out of MAGA nation the place it’s turn out to be apparent that they select to consider one thing is actual even when the proof says in any other case.
“Folks have identified about this man. They’ve identified his work. They know what he’s been as much as,” well-known sports activities memorabilia professional Steve Grad instructed WRTV Indianapolis
“He has been at it for years and years. And he’s pushed down the worth of issues. You understand, you take a look at a Tom Brady autograph and Tom Brady’s worth is affected drastically by this particular person.”
Whereas it doesn’t look like Lemieux will likely be missed by precise respected sports activities memorabilia retailers, one has to surprise what drove the person to not solely confess his lies, however in the end take his personal life shortly afterwards.
Andy Albert, who owns the Indy Card Alternate in Indianapolis, instructed WRTV his telephone was “blowing up all evening” on the information.
“He did skilled framing providers for us in all probability 4 or 5 years in the past — by no means had direct interplay with the memorabilia piece of it. Thank God. Ninety-nine % of the individuals on this trade do issues the best method. And that one dangerous apple ruins the complete apple cart. It simply infuriates me. Sadly, that’s going to have shockwaves for years to come back.”
We already wouldn’t belief any genuine sports activities memorabilia popping out of Indiana (no photographs). This undoubtedly doesn’t assist.
