Perlman family files $6.7 million lawsuit over alleged Andy Warhol forgeries

Real estate investor Richard Perlman and his family have filed a multinational lawsuit seeking over $6.7 million in damages following the discovery of alleged fake Andy Warhol paintings and prints. The lawsuit, filed in a Miami state court, targets approximately half a dozen individuals and companies across Florida, Philadelphia, and Peru. The plaintiffs allege these parties functioned as “suppliers, fake authenticators and distributors” in an organized forgery operation.

The scheme reportedly involved a painter in Peru, the illegal entry of works into the United States, and the creation of fabricated provenance documents and canvas labels. The fraud was uncovered in 2023 when Christie’s experts questioned the authenticity of portraits depicting figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, Liza Minnelli, and Debbie Harry.

Dealer Leslie Roberts, who sold the works from his Coconut Grove gallery, previously faced a lawsuit from the Perlman family that was resolved in January. Roberts has since pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges related to the scheme and is scheduled for sentencing on September 24. While Roberts maintains he believed the works were authentic, the current lawsuit seeks to hold all participants in the alleged fraudulent pipeline accountable.