Press Release
Tragic End to Alleged Sports Memorabilia Counterfeiter, Brett Lemieux
Westfield, Indiana – 45-year-old Brett Lemieux, previously on Fanatics’ radar for suspected sports memorabilia counterfeiting, has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound amid ongoing investigations into his alleged fraudulent activities. Law enforcement executed a search warrant related to the matter on Wednesday, uncovering Lemieux’s body during their operation.
Fanatics, a major player in the sports memorabilia market, has been actively collaborating with law enforcement for several months, conducting "test buys" from marketplace accounts linked to Lemieux. This initiative aimed to gather evidence for a counterfeiting case against him. In a recent social media post, purportedly from Lemieux, he claimed to have sold millions of counterfeit autographed items over the years, employing methods involving fake authentication holograms and signatures, while leveraging legitimate athlete signings as a cover.
The investigation has captured significant media attention, especially after Lemieux’s alarming confession of running a vast counterfeiting operation. His website, Mister Mancave, showcased thousands of questionable autographed items ranging from renowned athletes like Derek Jeter to NBA stars like LeBron James. Following the emergence of this scandal, eBay removed relevant listings associated with Mister Mancave.
Zohar Ravid, Fanatics’ president of specialty business and new ventures, underscored the company’s commitment to eradicating counterfeit practices, emphasizing that they have had an ongoing initiative against bad actors for years. Ravid dismissed Lemieux’s inflated figures as exaggerated, asserting the company’s priority is protecting both the market and genuine collectors.
The FBI is now involved as investigations continue, following a troubling pattern of counterfeit memorabilia cases in the sports world. This incident underscores the heightened risks posed by counterfeit operations, prompting a vigilant response from both law enforcement and industry leaders.
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