MIAMI – Palm Seaside artwork supplier Daniel Elie Bouaziz pled responsible at the moment to laundering cash derived from his scheme to promote counterfeit paintings.
Bouaziz is the proprietor of artwork galleries in South Florida, together with Danieli Tremendous Artwork (at 226A Price Avenue) and Galerie Danieli (at 230 Price Avenue), in Palm Seaside County. In line with the agreed-upon factual proffer in help of Bouaziz’s responsible plea, Bouaziz knowingly engaged in and tried to interact in a transaction by a monetary establishment affecting interstate commerce of over $10,000 in cash derived from the illegal sale of counterfeit artwork in violation of the wire fraud statute.
Particularly, on or about October 25, 2021, Bouaziz bought counterfeit paintings to a buyer, to incorporate items purportedly by artist Andy Warhol (“Warhol”) out of his Palm Seaside artwork galleries. Bouaziz had informed the shopper that the works that he was promoting, for between $75,000 and $240,000, have been genuine, unique Warhol items, and that a number of the items have been signed by the artist. Relying upon these false and fraudulent representations, the shopper bought paintings from Bouaziz. The shopper gave Bouaziz a $200,000 down cost for the paintings. The cash was deposited into Bouaziz’s account after which the comingled funds have been wired to different accounts, to incorporate an account managed by Bouaziz.
Bouaziz’s sentencing listening to is scheduled for Might 30, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. earlier than U.S. District Choose Aileen M. Cannon, in Fort Pierce.
U.S. Legal professional Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, appearing Particular Agent in Cost Maged Behnam of the FBI Miami Discipline Workplace, and Particular Agent in Cost Matthew D. Line of the IRS-Legal Investigation (IRS-CI) Miami Discipline Workplace made the announcement.
FBI Miami, West Palm Seaside Resident Company and IRS-CI Miami investigated this matter. Assistant U.S. Legal professional Sarah J. Schall is prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter A. Laserna and Daren Grove are dealing with the asset forfeiture facet of this case.
When you consider you’ve been a sufferer of artwork fraud, please contact the FBI’s Artwork Crime Staff at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Associated courtroom paperwork and data could also be discovered on the web site of the District Courtroom for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, beneath case quantity 22-cr-80099.
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