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California Man Admits to Celebrity Memorabilia Fraud Involving Kardashian and Trump Forgeries
A former resident of California has admitted to orchestrating a scheme to sell fake celebrity memorabilia, including items bearing forged signatures of prominent figures such as the Kardashians and former President Donald Trump. Federal authorities announced Monday that Anthony J. Tremayne, 58, has pleaded guilty to mail fraud in connection with the elaborate operation.
Guilty Plea Entered in Counterfeit Memorabilia Scheme
Tremayne, who previously resided in West Covina, a suburb of Los Angeles, and now lives in Rosarito, Mexico, entered a guilty plea to one count of mail fraud. The admission was made before federal prosecutors in the Central District of California, bringing to a close a significant chapter in the case.
Years of Deception and Profit
Prosecutors detailed that Tremayne engaged in the illicit sales of phony merchandise between 2010 and 2019. During this period, he reportedly amassed “more than $250,000 and potentially as much as $550,000” through his fraudulent activities.
According to court documents, “Tremayne operated a business centered on marketing memorabilia purported to bear authentic signatures from celebrated athletes, musicians, actors, and various other celebrities.” His operation involved advertising these collectibles nationwide, falsely claiming their signatures were genuine.
Accused’s Dismissive Remarks Upon Investigation
Prior to his guilty plea, Tremayne had reportedly expressed disbelief that his activities would attract federal scrutiny.
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FBI Confrontation and Seizure
During a 2014 encounter when FBI agents seized some of the bogus memorabilia on December 23, Tremayne allegedly remarked, “Why me? This is not a big deal. It seems like the FBI would have better things to do.” These comments were part of a 2019 grand jury indictment against the former California resident, highlighting his initial reaction to the federal investigation.
Kardashian and Trump Forgeries Sold
Among the items Tremayne fraudulently sold to an undercover FBI agent was a photograph from “Keeping up with the Kardashians” that featured counterfeit autographs of three of the show’s well-known personalities, as stated in the indictment.
Further adding to the scope of his deception, Tremayne also listed for sale a photograph of the then-current president in December 2019. At that time, late 2019, Donald Trump was serving the final year of his presidential term, according to the indictment.
Facing Potential Prison Sentence
Tremayne’s sentencing is scheduled for August 11. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the mail fraud charge. The outcome of the sentencing will determine the final repercussions for his years-long scheme of selling fraudulent celebrity memorabilia.