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 Rich on February 16, 2013 at 1:21pm: Although I'm not 100% certain who runs ACAF, lol.

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 16, 2013 at 1:36pm: ~Rick , was that you would or would not ?

Comment by Rick Meyer on February 16, 2013 at 1:50pm: I would..........................................when hell freezes over!!!!

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 16, 2013 at 2:03pm: Clarified ! lol

Comment by Grant Davis on February 19, 2013 at 5:37pm: BTS (Dominic Manning) is still a UACC registered dealer N0 260

Comment by Mick Taylor on February 20, 2013 at 8:18am: After conversations Ive had Its my understanding that there is no legal gagging order in place.

Richard Easten runs ACAF a very good man here in the UK who goes out on a limb fighting the fakers! He is primarily a collector

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 20, 2013 at 3:06pm: Grant

Mr Manning has always been a Reg dealer on the UACC, and was a founder of AFTAL

Now AFTAL is being called numerous names over here in the UK, nothing near the name they were originally founded for !!!

I have heard numerous members are not renewing their membership also, sad news for the club but members are finally hearing what has been said on here and acting accordingy

Comment by Gary Harvey on February 20, 2013 at 3:08pm: Mick

I would like to hear from the AFTAL Interim board on that statement, they stated they were forced into silence by said Gagging order

~If it has been removed can we hear from them regarding their findings

Finally lets get it all onto the table

Comment by Mike P on February 24, 2013 at 5:17pm: I've heard that Dominic apparently said the Jacksons are REAL and if anyone wants a refund they must produce 2 statements from world wide qualified authenticators; but he will not accept the opinions of anyone on AML inc Roger. So these Jacksons are genuine as far as AFTAL is concerned, no refunds are to be issued apparently.

I heard about this from several people who wish not to be mentioned by named; mentioned for transparency's sake.