CRIME

The Man Behind the Fake Memorabilia Scam

Rosarito, MexicoWed Apr 09 2025
A man who once lived in California has admitted to a big scam. He sold fake sports and celebrity items worth a lot of money. The U. S. Department of Justice shared this news on a Monday. The man, Anthony J. Tremayne, is 58 years old. He could spend up to 20 years in prison for his actions. He admitted to selling fake memorabilia worth between $250, 000 and $550, 000. This included items that were supposed to be signed by famous athletes and celebrities. Tremayne lived in West Covina, California, but now he is in Rosarito, Mexico. He sold fake items linked to big names in sports. This included teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Kings. He even sold fake items related to a well-known golfer. His fake items also included replica Stanley Cups, boxing gloves, and Pro Football Hall of Fame jackets. Tremayne went to great lengths to make his scam seem real. He sent fake “Certificate of Authenticity” forms with his items. In one case, he sold a fake “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” photo. He claimed it had real signatures, but it was all a lie. He sold this fake item to an undercover FBI agent for $200. He will face a sentencing hearing on August 11. The charges against Tremayne were serious. He faced 13 counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. By pleading guilty, he reduced the number of charges he was facing. There was also talk that he moved to Mexico to avoid paying about $1. 4 million in taxes in the United States. Sports memorabilia is a big business. Fans love to own items signed by their favorite athletes. This makes it a tempting target for scammers. It is important for buyers to be careful. They should always check the authenticity of items before buying. This can help them avoid being tricked by fake memorabilia.

questions

    Is it possible that the FBI was aware of the fraud earlier but allowed it to continue for their own purposes?
    How did the FBI become involved in this case, and what role did they play in the investigation?
    What steps could buyers have taken to verify the authenticity of the items they purchased?

actions