Overview

• Westfield police confirmed that Brett Lemieux died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound after confessing on Facebook to a decades-long counterfeit scheme.
• Officers executed warrants at two Westfield properties and uncovered large quantities of allegedly forged items and falsified authentication materials.
• Lemieux’s online confession claimed his MisterMancave operation sold $350 million in fake autographed memorabilia using counterfeit holograms from major brands.
• Authentication firms and dealers are tightening review protocols to assess the scope of potential forgeries and restore buyer confidence.
• Collectors and dealers are bracing for widespread devaluation of autographed items as the market reevaluates the authenticity of pieces sold over the past 25 years.