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Eight People Charged In Alleged Sale Of Fake Artwork Purported To Be That Of Indigenous Artist Norval Morrisseau

Pamela Vanmeer
By Pamela Vanmeer
Courtesy OPP

KAWARTHA LAKES-The OPP and the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) arrested eight individuals for their involvement in the apparent fraudulent manufacturing and distribution of artwork purported to be that of Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau on March 1.

Courtesy OPP

Morrisseau – also known as Copper Thunderbird – was an Indigenous artist from the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation. Before his death in 2007, allegations began to emerge of individuals creating and selling art under his name and made in his distinctive Woodland School of Art style according to police.

“Norval Morrisseau was a prominent artist of the Thunder Bay region and to profit off of his name is not only unethical but also illegal. Together with the Ontario Provincial Police, I congratulate all involved for the successful resolution of such an important investigation,” said Chief Dan Taddeo, Thunder Bay Police Service

Since 2020 and together with the TBPS, a major case manager with the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch has been leading the investigation of the alleged production, distribution and sale of fake artwork falsely attributed to the late Morrisseau.

As a result of this two-and-a-half-year investigation, eight people have been arrested and are facing 40 total charges. More than 1,000 alleged fraudulent paintings, prints and other artworks have been seized. Some of these paintings sold for tens of thousands of dollars to unsuspecting members of the public who had no reason to believe they weren’t genuine.

The OPP says it is not in a position to authenticate any artwork. If you believe you may be in possession of a suspected forgery or fraudulent work of art, it is recommended that you seek legal advice by contacting a lawyer or the Law Society of Ontario, which operates the Law Society Referral Service. This service provides a free half-hour consultation with a lawyer. For more information, please visit http://www.lso.ca.

“It was important for the OPP and the Thunder Bay Police Service to identify and hold accountable those who allegedly profited illegally by forging Norval Morrisseau’s artwork. The results of this investigation are a testament to the commitment and competence of the investigators and the collaboration of policing partners.” stated OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique

Here is a list of those charged:

David John VOSS

51

Thunder Bay
  • Forgery contrary to Section 367 of the Criminal Code
  • Uttering Forged Document contrary to Section 368 of

    the Criminal Code

  • Defraud the Public Over $5,000 contrary to Section

    380(1) of the Criminal Code

  • Fraud Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1)(a) of the

    Criminal Code x3

  • Commission of offence for criminal organization contrary

    to Section 467.12 of the Criminal Code

  • Instructing commission of offence for criminal

    organization contrary to Section 467.13 of the Criminal Code

Diane Marie CHAMPAGNE

63

Thunder Bay
  • Forgery contrary to Section 367 of the Criminal Code
  • Uttering Forged Document contrary to Section 368 of

    the Criminal Code

  • Defraud the Public Over $5,000 contrary to Section

    380(1) of the Criminal Code

  • Commission of offence for criminal organization contrary

    to Section 467.12 of the Criminal Code

Gary Bruce LAMONT

61

Thunder Bay
  • Forgery contrary to Section 367 of the Criminal Code
  • Uttering Forged Document contrary to Section 368 of

    the Criminal Code
  • Defraud the Public Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code
  • Fraud Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code
  • Commission of offence for criminal organization contrary to Section 467.12 of the Criminal Code

Linda Joy TKACHYK

59

Thunder Bay
  • Forgery contrary to Section 367 of the Criminal Code
  • Uttering Forged Document contrary to Section 368 of

    the Criminal Code

  • Defraud the Public Over $5,000 contrary to Section

    380(1) of the Criminal Code

  • Fraud Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the

    Criminal Code

  • Commission of offence for criminal organization contrary

    to Section 467.12 of the Criminal Code

Benjamin Paul MORRISSEAU

53

Thunder Bay
  • Forgery contrary to Section 367 of the Criminal Code
  • Participation in criminal organization contrary to Section

    467.11 of the Criminal Code

Jeffrey Gordon COWAN

47

Niagara-on-the-Lake
  • Uttering Forged Document contrary to Section 368 of the Criminal Code
  • Defraud the Public Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code
  • Fraud Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code x 4

James WHITE

81

Essa Township
  • Uttering Forged Document contrary to Section 368 of the Criminal Code
  • Defraud the Public Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code
    • Fraud Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code x 2
    • Possess Property Obtained by Crime for the Purpose of Trafficking contrary to Section 355.4 of the Criminal Code

    David P. BREMNER

    75

    Locust Hill
    • Uttering Forged Document contrary to Section 368 of the Criminal Code
    • Defraud the Public Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code
    • Fraud Over $5,000 contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code x 2
    • Possess Property Obtained by Crime for the Purpose of Trafficking contrary to Section 355.4 of the Criminal Code

 

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Pamela Vanmeer
Pamela Vanmeerhttps://www.kawartha411.ca/
Pamela VanMeer is a two time winner of the prestigious Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Award. Her investigative reports on abuse in Long Term Care Homes garnered international attention for the issue and won the Ron Laidlaw Award. She is a former reporter and anchor at CHEX News, now Global Peterborough and helped launch the New CHEX Daily, a daily half hour talk show. While at CHCH News in Hamilton she covered some of the biggest news stories of the day.

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