BREAKING NEWS: Police release new information on Brett Lemieux sports memorabilia fraud and forgery case
A tip from a North Carolina woman set the wheels in motion for uncovering possibly one of the biggest forgery rings in sports memorabilia history.
According to the Westfield Police Department (Westfield, Ind.), the woman reported receiving fraudulent merchandise from Mister Mancave LLC, sparking an investigation that got underway in February 2025.
“As the case progressed, additional victims were located, each claiming to have purchased autographed memorabilia from Mister Mancave that was later determined to be counterfeit,” Westfield Police Department spokesperson Billy J. Adams said in a statement released Thursday.
After gathering enough evidence to acquire a search warrant, the Westfield Police Department raided a warehouse connected to local resident Brett Lemieux. The following day, the investigation extended to Lemieux’s home, where he was found deceased.
By the time it was announced that Lemieux was dead, the general public already knew his name. The 45-year-old had posted a scathing, 1,200-word rant in the Facebook group Autographs 101 detailing his elaborate forgery scheme.
Though the final cause of Lemieux’s death is still pending a toxicology report, according to Hamilton County coroner Jeff Jellison, the Westfield Police Department has determined that Lemieux died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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It isn’t known if the 45-year-old Lemieux typed his Facebook post and then committed suicide, or if he scheduled the post to publish following his death. Lemieux made his post at noon ET on July 16. Jellison estimated the time of death between 11:58 a.m. and 12:48 p.m. ET.
The Westfield Police Department raids of Lemieux’s business and house proved fruitful to the investigation.
“A significant quantity of evidence was collected during the searches, including documentation and items related to the alleged counterfeit operation,” Adams stated in his press release. “Investigators are also aware of a social media post made by Mr. Lemieux shortly before his death, in which he gave specific details and named other individuals who may have been involved. This will require additional time to carefully review and investigate all evidence and leads. We are working with various authenticators for technical assistance and the authentication of all seized items.”
In Lemieux’s Facebook manifesto, he claimed that he had sold over four million items and racked in $350 million in sales during his 20-year forgery operation, a scheme hobby insiders called “staggering” and one of the largest fraud and forgery schemes in hobby history.
Lemieux said his Mister Mancave business sold and produced items with fake holograms from some of the largest companies in the sports collectibles industry.
Adams noted this is an active and ongoing investigation, and no further information will be released at this time. The FBI is assisting in the case.
In October 2024, the Westfield Police Department assigned one of its detectives part-time to the FBI White Collar Crimes Task Force, strengthening the department’s ability to pursue complex financial and fraud-related crimes.
“This case is a powerful example of how partnerships and proactive planning can dramatically expand our ability to serve and protect,” Adams said.
Adams acknowledged that the Westfield Police Department has received assistance in this case from the police departments in nearby Carmel and Fishers, Ind., as well as the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Westfield Police Department detective Don Bennett at dbennett@westfield.in.gov.