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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?

Views: 15868

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

Comment by goodcat on January 5, 2018 at 11:54am

Thanks for explaining Steve and I'll just have to take your word on that.

But I'm still not giving him a pass. 

I hate bullies and I hate ignorant nonsense. And that ain't gonna change either.

So I guess we'll just call it a stale mate and move on. 

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 5, 2018 at 12:09pm

I reviewed Daniel Odobas's lawsuit against Antiquities, GFA and AAU last night. It said that Odobas bought 33 autographed items from Antiquities for a total of $171,900. I'll list the pieces shortly.

It said that Odobas contacted several well-known auction houses and other authorities in the music memorabilia field to gauge their interest in buying the Suspect items.

It said that he received information from the auction houses and authorities in the field that they believed the items he purchased from Antiquities were not authentic, and that they had no desire to purchase them.

It said Odobas then hired JSA to inspect them, and that they determined that 32 of the autographed items were not authentic, but one, the Stevie Ray Vaughan signed contract, was inconclusive.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 5, 2018 at 12:35pm

Fair enough, Goodcat.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 5, 2018 at 1:16pm

These are the 33 items that Antiquities sold Odobas for $171,900, according to the lawsuit:

  1. Jimi Hendrix handwritten and signed lyrics to Stepping Stone (AAU COA)
  2. Electric Ladyland LP signed by Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. According to the lawsuit, this was actually a 1979 rerelease of the album; Hendrix died in 1970. (AAU COA)
  3. Axis: Bold as Love LP signed by Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell (AAU COA)
  4. Texas Flood LP signed by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (AAU COA)
  5. Jimi Hendrix signed vintage 1960s tie dye dress (AAU COA)
  6. Stevie Ray Vaughan signed GHS contract dated Nov. 9, 1986 (Antiquities COA only)
  7. Jimi Hendrix handwritten and signed lyrics to Rainy Day (Antiquities COA only)
  8. Morrison Hotel LP signed by Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robbie Kreiger and John Densmore (Antiquities COA only)
  9. The Doors debut LP signed by Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robbie Kreiger and John Densmore (AAU COA)
  10. John Lennon large, hand drawn and signed sketch of himself and Yoko in a loving embrace (GFA COA)
  11. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to I Saw Her Standing There (GFA COA)
  12. George Harrison handwritten and signed lyrics to Here Comes the Sun (AAU COA)
  13. Jim Morrison handwritten and signed lyrics to LA Woman  (AAU COA)
  14. LA Woman LP signed by Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robbie Kreiger and John Densmore (AAU COA)
  15. Jim Morrison handwritten and signed lyrics to Light My Fire (AAU COA)
  16. 2 pages of Michael Jackson handwritten and signed lyrics to Billie Jean (AAU COA)
  17. Jimi Hendrix handwritten and signed full page of lyrics to Are You Experienced?
  18. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to Come Together (AAU COA)
  19. Jim Morrison handwritten and signed lyrics to People are Strange (AAU COA)
  20. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to Hey Jude (GFA COA)
  21. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to Penny Lane (GFA COA)
  22. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to Ticket to Ride (GFA COA)
  23. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to Love Me Do (GFA COA)
  24. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to I Want to Hold Your Hand (GFA COA)
  25. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to Twist and Shout (GFA COA)
  26. Elvis Presley handwritten and signed lyrics to Love Me Tender (GFA COA)
  27. Jimi Hendrix handwritten and signed lyrics to Manic Depression (GFA COA)
  28. Jimi Hendrix handwritten and signed lyrics to Purple Haze (GFA COA)
  29. Elvis Presley handwritten and signed lyrics to Don't Be Cruel (AAU COA)
  30. Jim Morrison handwritten and signed lyrics to Break on Through (AAU COA)
  31. John Lennon signed color sketch of his "famous Lennon face" (GFA COA)
  32. Jimi Hendrix handwritten and signed lyrics to I Don't Live Today (GFA COA)
  33. John Lennon handwritten and signed lyrics to A Hard Day's Night (GFA COA)
Comment by Fuddjcal on January 5, 2018 at 1:41pm

and you are correct Steve. Stopped collecting and quit E-bay because I stand for something.  When E-bay jumped the shark, I decided to cancel my account and stop buying anymore autographs. I still enjoy following the latest stories here and do what I can to help people smoke out forgeries. It's a known FACT that collectors are stupid as ever right now and that cannot be disputed.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 5, 2018 at 1:43pm

No doubt about it...I need to pad my wall. 

Comment by Fuddjcal on January 5, 2018 at 1:45pm

and Goodcat ....Please donate to Steve's LEGAL Fund today. You have donated right? Mr big Canadian autograph guy.  I I will gladly double anything you send today...Go ahead arrogant mouth boy. Put your Worthless Canadian $$$ where your big yapper pie whole is.

Comment by Richard S. Simon on January 5, 2018 at 1:50pm

What a list of items. Sorry but how in the world would anyone, anyone, think that these rock n roll jewels could come from one dealer and all of a sudden be made available to him? Couldn't the buyer think for one moment that he was being duped and they saw him coming or did he just think that he and only he was being blessed with the crown jewels of rock n roll? HANDWRITTEN lyrics from Elvis, Morrison, Harrison, Hendrix, Lennon OMG, come on now. 33 Items, rock n roll jewels at about $5K apiece. Come on now, OMG, they saw him coming and he was oblivious. 

Sorry, I know that most posts here have not agreed with this opinion but we all have opinions and Fuddj (Hi, Fuddj) has an opinion, and cat has an opinion and I have mine.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 5, 2018 at 1:51pm

Thanks, Fudd. I need to make clear that the legal fund had been going to attorney advice and planned court expenses. I’ve gotten generous contributions but not enough to hire an attorney.

OMG, Goodcat, a $100,000 donation?

Comment by Richard S. Simon on January 5, 2018 at 1:54pm

I feel for you Steve, I have been through it three times.

Defendant twice and plaintiff once.

I beat them every time.

The truth can win out, sometimes.

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