Agents remove artwork from Miami Fine Art Gallery following Spotlight report on ongoing fraud allegations against veteran dealer.
A team of FBI investigators descended upon a Coconut Grove art gallery early Wednesday morning. Witnesses say agents were seen removing works of art into two unmarked vans parked outside.
An agent at the scene confirmed that an investigation was underway but could not provide details. An FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to the Spotlight’s request for comment.
Late Wednesday federal law enforcing officials announced that Leslie Roberts, the gallery’s owner and operator, had been arrested on wire fraud and money laundering charges and released on bond. Two of Roberts associates were arrested on related charges.
The gallery, Miami Fine Art Gallery, located at 3180 Commodore Plaza, was the subject of a Spotlight investigation last month into allegations of art fraud and other improprieties by veteran Coconut Grove art dealer Leslie “Les” Roberts.
The report chronicled Roberts’ past legal troubles related to his work as a gallery owner and highlighted a string of recent lawsuits alleging that Roberts sold forged artworks by well-known artists such as Andy Warhol, and in other instances failed to deliver high-priced pieces after receiving customers’ payments.
Roberts has denied the allegations.
Read more about the Miami Fine Art Gallery.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with information provided by FBI and U.S. Department of Justice.
