Mass Resignations, Lives Threatened as AFTAL is Hijacked During Behind the Scenes Forgery Investigation

Formed with the stated goal of stamping out fake autographs, AFTAL, the Autograph Fair Trade Alliance, attracted many of UK's and Europe's most reputable dealers as members. But while the vast majority of AFTAL dealers lived its stated goal, including a recognized expert used by law enforcement to testify against the forgery industry, AFTAL's two primary founders, Dominic Manning and Marc Mclennan, used it as cover to sell and authenticate thousands of forgeries. Manning has seized control of the organization after an AFTAL steering committee found that he sold hundreds of fake Michael Jackson autographs he claimed to have gotten in person. And like a mansion built on quicksand, AFTAL is crumbling.

As the legally listed head of AFTAL, Manning, owner of Behind the Scenes Autographs, disbanded the steering committee last week that was formed in December by boardmember Garry King after Manning and another boardmember were forced to resign. Manning then reportedly had AFTAL's lawyer slap a suppression order (gag order) on the former members of the committee, forbidding them to talk publicly about Manning's actions or their determination that the Michael Jacksons Manning sold were forgeries.

In the UK, even revealing that you are under a suppression order can have you held in contempt of court, so little information about it has come out and no public documents appear to be available. But the sudden silence of former steering members who used to speak to me confirms its existence in my mind.

Events have taken a violent turn. Several autograph dealers have reportedly been threatened by Manning or the source of the forgeries, Adrian Longden, and police reports have been filed. At least one victim is in fear of his life.

Roughly a third of AFTAL members have resigned or are in the process of doing so, and many more are anticipated to resign as they hear about the scandal.

Stay tuned for more. Autograph Magazine is preparing a list of current and former AFTAL dealers considered reputable. Please message me if you would like to be considered for this list.

For more details on AFTAL's actions and the Dominic Manning/Adrian Longden forgeries, read the following Autograph Magazine Live! discussions:

0 members like this

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 2:24pm: Here are the start of my replies to this mass brawl

1

Jason , thanks for your efforts mate, you have put up with a lot via this. Readers dont know exactly what u have been thru but well done

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 2:26pm: Answer 2

To Rich Viola

Adrian sold to at least 3 UK Dealers, im unsure about US dealers

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 2:29pm: Answer 3

I beleive the AFTAL steering comittee did a very good job ......considering that when they submitted their findings they obviously were totally ignored

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 2:34pm: Answer 4

We in the UK need a Authentification Association, something that can run with AFTALs original principles, no doubt this is required in the UK

Im hoping personally, that the people / dealers who do not like what example has been shown recently by their organisation vote with their feet, and either resign or dont renew the membership

Come on guys re group and lets beat the forders

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 2:53pm: Answer 5

I feel for people like Garry King and Ken Mlls, they were hung out to dry for over 8 months

They fought to save their buisinesses thru all of this whilst no support from anyone in the UK

The truth is out there and we now have it dont we

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 2:55pm: Answer 6

Rich Viola

its nothing to do with UACC, but im suprised that no one has commented via them or for them

some of the people questioned in all this debate have Registered Dealer status

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 3:03pm: Answer 7

I am not a member of AFTAL and actually totally not interested in their Club, even though I have been invited numerous times I chose to refuse the invitation

My reasons were personal at the time, and If I care to blow my own trumpet........ I was totally justified in my reasons not to join

Im not going to make statements about them personanly but I feel the withdrawal of membership must be a show of disgust in their performance recently

I am a UACC RD, and I abide to their principles and have been a member over 20 years

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 3:08pm: Answer 8

If anyone reading this post has any dubious Michael Jackson Autographs why not raise them now and advise where obtained

This can prove and tell a story if other dealers and collectors obtained the same type of signature in Question as Adrian obtained via Security and PAs

Come on lets all confess, lets get it all out there

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 3:14pm: Answer 9

Good points raised Robert McCluskey

Are we to assume this question of Fake items is a UK problem only ?

We know of at least 3 UK Dealers supplied in this matter, we have also read of US Collectors and Dealers being offered items from the UK, but did anyone ever actually buy from Adrian ?

Can we determine if anyone bought, can we be honest ?

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 6, 2013 at 3:29pm: Answer 10

Robert McC

Yes Adrian did admit he passed items into security regarding the Jackson items, I did not read anywhere in his statement the mention of any other celebrities that he obtained

So are we to assume all other celerities he obtained in person were actually collected in person ?

That is............

Not via friends

TTM

Via PAs or Security

Can you confirm please ?