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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 Richard S. Simon on September 7, 2016 at 6:00am: These crooks could not stand to have their books opened up. The sellers books will lead to the forgers,,, the sellers might give up the forgers if LE starts to get into the picture. This might open up a big can of worms.

Comment by Rick Meyer on September 7, 2016 at 6:34am: Good point Richard. I'd like to see a criminal investigation get started. They would undoubtedly start snitching on one another.

Comment by Barry S on September 7, 2016 at 7:00am: That is a good point Richard. I've been waiting 6 years for the big "Operation Bullpen" type bust on the rock memorabilia side. Thought it would happen after the ARA investigation, never happened.

Comment by Don Webster on September 7, 2016 at 7:34am: Gentlemen you have hit the nail on the head...

We don't want dueling authenticators on the witness stand... that would only give the presiding judge a headache...

We want an investigation to track the source of the autographs...the chain of ownership...just who was the young lady in Liverpool who got the Betles to sign tht albumin 1964 ???

The items that Antiquities sells have no chain of ownership...or least that is what we strongly suspect and that's because they are mass produced in a backroom somewhere. Get Toby and her staff to tell the world EXACTLY WHERE they acquire these items and FROM WHOM and you've won your case.

The name Tom Trumaine has been mentioned. Don't know the gentleman but if true I've got a feeling we're about to learn plenty more about him...

Also would the proceeds from crime legislation take effect here? As mentioned the Las Vegas outlet has sold multi millions of dollars in fake merchandise. Are they potentially in line to lose it all ????

Comment by wascher on September 7, 2016 at 9:26am: Since Bullpen is rather similar, how did they go about proving one authenticator over the other in that situation?

Comment by Rick Meyer on September 7, 2016 at 10:08am: Not sure they did use one authenticator over another Wascher. If I remember right they focused on the actual forgers and got them on wire taps and caught them with forgery supplies and inventory. Most of the authenticators were never charged or prosecuted. Most of those who were charged copped plea agreements so there wasn't much if any courtroom authenticator drama that I remember.

Comment by Richard S. Simon on September 7, 2016 at 10:21am: If I remember correctly the Feds had wire taps and they turned the gang leader who ratted out the forger and others.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on September 7, 2016 at 10:42am: Operation Bullpen had informants they turned from the inside, wire taps and video of Marino forging and talking about it. I believe they also covertly marked balls and photos, which later appeared with the signatures of dead people.

I'm not sure it's a great idea to speculate publicly on the strategy the plaintiff may take, but I'd assume it's more comprehensive than "expert vs. expert."

Comment by Barry S on September 7, 2016 at 10:53am: This is nothing like bullpen. 400 agents raided them all at once, caught them with everything. This is one man suing, others will come forward, will snowball. Hopefully Antiquities will be forced to reimburse those people, then go away. But I'm afraid that's about it. Hope I'm wrong.