Posted on 07/18/2025 3:14:10 PM PDT by lowbridge
Edited on 07/18/2025 4:31:02 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
A prominent sports memorabilia businessman was found dead after police carried out a search warrant into his allegedly fraudulent operation on Tuesday.
Brett Lemieux, 45 of Westfield, Ind., was the founder of prominent sports memorabilia site MisterManCave, which he claimed sold more than four million counterfeit items and surpassed $350 million in sales in a 1,200-word Facebook post on the “Autographs 101” group Wednesday morning.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
"Suicide".
After posting a "confession".
Sure bud.
Biden autopen autographs would be a great business if anybody wanted that worthless POS’s signature anymore.
Wonder if the guy who bought the Mars rock got ripped off, lol.
So did he commit suicide because of guilt?
A while ago I recall the autograph collectors advice. Unless the person in question signed it right in front of you the item could be fake. Now there are varying degrees of trust. I have a record promo poster signed by the artist that was auctioned off by the artist personally for her charity so the level of trust there is quite high.
A wealthy guy I know has a huge sports memorabilia collection. And almost every sport is represented. He had signed baseballs, football game jerseys, etc.
I once asked him about counterfeits. Here’s what he said: “I’m guessing that 1/3 of my collection is fake. I just don’t know which 1/3.”
🤔
I bought some bubble gum with football or baseball cards around 60 years ago. Those were probably legit. I think within a few days or months they were tossed in the trash.
Wow....
.
Only Autograph I have is “Scotty Brayton”
Signed on My Pit Pass shortly before He Died testing at Indy Speedway.
.
RIP Scotty-—
You Are the Bull Rider
and Nicest Guy I ever met.
Unless he knew he was under federal investigation and the jig was up.
I like signed books and when I pick them up for a couple bucks at a yard sale, etc., most likely are they are legit. Sports and entertainment are the most forged autographs. Paying hundreds, thousands, for a signed bat/helmet or jersey is just asking to be ripped off.
I would find it a lot more likely that one of his clients was slightly miffed at being taken.
But I also read too many mysteries so that may be an influence.
Sounds like a case of FAFO, which he did to the “wrong guy” … who suicided him. Case closed. Justice served (maybe?)
he should have sold autopen autographs ... oh, wait, the White House had a lock on that market.
A worn, autographed, baseball of my grandfather’s was autographed with at least nine players. I really didn’t notice any particular autograph, until it rolled to the front of my drawer. ONE name—Ty Cobb—revealed itself...
≣≣8-O
When it was signed the “collectables” business/industry didn’t exist so a good chance it is authentic. This fraud story took place when that business/industry had become well established with shows and events and hype.
That’s pretty cool!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.