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Antiquities Caesars Palace, GFA/Stephen Rocchi and AAU/Drew Max Sued for Autograph Fraud

According to the Courthouse News Service, Mr. Daniel Odobas has filed a lawsuit against Antiquities Of Nevada (Toby Stoffa), Drew Max (Authentic Autographs Unlimited) and Stephen Rocchi (Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators for "Fraud, Deceptive, Trade, Misrepresentation, Unjust Enrichment, Conspiracy, Bad Faith, Breach Of Contract and Breach Of Warranty."

Immediately below are links to the story.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/08/30/vegas-memorabilia-house-ac...

http://www.inquisitr.com/3472565/vegas-antiques-and-memorabilia-dea...

In my opinion, this was a long time coming.

Drew Max of Authentic Autographs Unlimited, gives himself the title of Forensic Document Examiner (FDE).

What in the world does "Forensics" have anything to do with autographs?

Very, very rarely in my opinion.

I don't know of any Forensic Document Examiner who knows sports or music autographs

It is also important to know that COAs and LOAs issued by Forensic Document Examiners or by authentication companies that use them, are much less likely to be genuine.

I have yet to see an authentic autograph of Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams with a COA from Drew Max (AAU).

Not one.

Just below is a link to a thread I wrote on Drew Max and one of his performances on the Pawn Stores show as he Forensically Examined an FDR "Letter To Clergy."

http://live.autographmagazine.com/profiles/blogs/drew-max-forensic-...

Then, of course, there is Stephen Rocchi and his Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators (GFA) group.

In the six years since Rocchi started GFA, I have yet to see one authentic Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams or Joe DiMaggio autograph with a COA from GFA (Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators).

Also, since when does a Forensic Examination only cost $25.00?

Rocchi does all of the below for $25.00 and still can't get it right.

From Rocchi's website. Seriously?

You do not need "Forensics" to determine if an autograph is authentic or not.

http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/ebay-mantle-dimaggio...

http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/joe-dimaggio-forgeri...

http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/roger-maris-forgerie...

Just below is a typical Mickey Mantle forgery on a baseball with a COA from Stephen Rocchi and Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators.

It can be opined in less than one second as a forgery.

What is Rocchi thinking when he issues a COA for the below Mantle forgery?

Rocchi (Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators) has certed dozens of the below set of Mickey Mantle/Roger Maris forgeries on a reproduced Safe At Home poster.

A real authenticator would laugh and dismiss this garbage in a millisecond, but Rocchi has certed dozens of these as authentic.

These are, at best, laughable.

When will all of this "Forensic" madness finally end?

Tags: aau, antiquities, caesars palace, drew max, forgeries, fraud, gfa, lawsuit, pawn stars, rocchi, More…toby stoffa

9 members like this

Comment by wascher on September 7, 2016 at 11:11am: Ok my likening this to bullpen was because of the thousands of "forensically examined items" by some of these guys is similar to them actually being part of the creation of the items. I wasn't sure how it was actually reported initially to feds/FBI. Thanks for the info.

Comment by Barry S on September 8, 2016 at 6:49am: I see what you mean Washer. I think the best outcome would be if others would see and come forward. If 37 people showed up with a Hendrix guitar, 56 people with a Beatles signed Abby Rd. These places last because if someone sues or makes enough noise, they pay them off/settle out of court, sign a gag order. This dude must have FU money. I still have my fake Ali signed by Olsen during the bullpen area, from Park West Galleries.

Comment by Michael on January 2, 2018 at 2:37pm: My Brother Dan is the subject of this thread. He isn’t supposed to speak about the matter publicly, but I can tell you that he’s satisfied with the result.

And I hope these people get put out of business soon.

Comment by sling on January 2, 2018 at 3:22pm: let me guess, Dan either won lawsuit but had to settle for less money than awarded plus his silence in order to collect? Or they preemtively offer good $$ but requiring silence?

Comment by Michael on January 2, 2018 at 3:46pm: No comment.

In my opinion, somebody who knows a lawyer should start a class action; get a bunch of injured parties working together to put them out of business permanently. I’m in Vancouver or I would do it. They exist only because their victims allow them to exist.

Comment by CJCollector on January 2, 2018 at 3:49pm: Well written, Michael!!!

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 2, 2018 at 5:31pm: Here's the lawsuit that Daniel Odobas filed against Antiquities, GFA and AAU. The plaintiffs and defendants asked for the court to seal it, and it did.

Luckily one of the members of this site sent me a copy.

Odobas%20vs%20Antiquities-GFA-AAU%20Lawsuit.pdf

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 2, 2018 at 5:35pm: Michael, welcome here...thanks for joining us!

Comment by Richard S. Simon on January 2, 2018 at 5:41pm: Wow, I just read/skimmed most of the lawsuit. My first comment, sorry to denigrate the litigant, but some guys just have too much money. Elvis, Hendrix, Harrison and more,, no suspicions??? My second comment is HOW GREAT IS THIS. These guys nailed for apparently big bucks!!! Super!! Great!! Wonderful!! This made my day.

Comment by goodcat on January 2, 2018 at 5:52pm: holy moly Richard, did you just say this on this?

"My first comment, sorry to denigrate the litigant, but some guys just have too much money. Elvis, Hendrix, Harrison and more,, no suspicions???"

Ouch man... that's a low blow. And I resent comments like this. It's only people that have little money that bash people who have money to burn. Give your head a shake.

Anyway... I just read the file too... thx for posting Steve.