Fake Warhol, Banksy, Basquiat Works Sold By South FL Art Dealer: DOJ

PALM BEACH, FL — A South Florida art dealer faces charges related to an art fraud scheme in which he’s accused of marketing and selling works he claimed were made by prominent artists.

Daniel Eli Bouaziz made his first appearance before a federal judge in West Palm Beach on Friday after being charged with mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his scheme to sell forged, high-end artwork, according to a Department of Justice news release.

Bouaziz falsely marketed works, claiming they were original or authentic pieces by prominent artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Banksy and Roy Lichtenstein. He sold the fraudulent art from his Worth Avenue galleries in Palm Beach, Danieli Fine Art and Galerie Danieli, the criminal complaint affidavit said.

Victims unknowingly purchased the fraudulent art pieces, some of which were inexpensive reproductions, for tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars, the DOJ said.

The art dealer purchased the low-cost reproductions from online auction sites, then drastically marked up the prices and sold the works to victims as originals. Bouaziz used several tactics to deceive his victims, including falsifying a work’s ownership history and adding a signature to a piece to make it appear authentic and increase its perceived value.

In addition, he laundered money he received from the fraudulent art scheme, according to the affidavit.