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Date: 05-30-2023
Case Style:
Case Number: 22-cr-80099
Judge: Aileen M. Cannon
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Miami-Dade County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Miami
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Miami, Florida criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with laundering money derived from his scheme to sell counterfeit artwork.
Daniel Elie Bouaziz was the owner of art galleries, to include Danieli Fine Art and Galerie Danieli, located at 226A and 230 Worth Avenue, respectively, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Bouaziz knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in a monetary transaction, by, through, and to, a financial institution, affecting interstate and foreign commerce, in criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000, such property having been derived from the unlawful sale of counterfeit art, using means of interstate commerce to carry out the sale and transfer of proceeds.
On October 25, 2021, Bouaziz sold counterfeit artwork to a customer, to include pieces purportedly by artist Andy Warhol (“Warhol”) out of his Palm Beach art galleries. Bouaziz had told the customer that the works that he was selling, for between $75,000 and $240,000, were authentic, original Warhol pieces, and that some of the pieces were signed by the artist. Relying upon these false and fraudulent representations, the customer purchased artwork from Bouaziz. The customer gave Bouaziz a $200,000 down payment for the artwork. The money was deposited into Bouaziz’s account and then the comingled funds were wired to other accounts, to include an account controlled by Bouaziz.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Cannon.
FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency, and IRS-CI Miami investigated this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Schall is prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter A. Laserna and Daren Grove are handling asset forfeiture.
18:1341 and 2 - FRAUDS AND SWINDLES
(1-5)
18:1343 and 2 - FRAUD BY WIRE, RADIO, OR TELEVISION
(6-13)
18:1957 and 2 - EMBEZZELMENT/MONEY LAUNDERING
(14-17)
Outcome: 05/30/2023 94 PAPERLESS Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Aileen M. Cannon: Sentencing held on May 30, 2023, as to Daniel Elie Bouaziz. The Court rules on Defendant's objections 84 ; overrules Defendant's objection to the number of victims but sustains Defendant's unopposed objection to the loss amount and otherwise adopts the Pre-Sentence Investigation Report in full. Special Agent Gervasi sworn and testified. The Government's Unopposed Motion for Forfeiture 76 to be granted by separate Order to follow. Counts 1-16 dismissed on Government motion. Defendant sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment followed by 3 years' supervised release, with a $100.00 special assessment, and a $15,000.00 fine. Mandatory and special conditions imposed. Restitution hearing to be scheduled. Defendant advised of right to appeal. Defendant remanded to custody of USMS.Total time in court: 3 hour(s). Defendant (custody), Frances Weisberg (USPO), Court Reporter: Diane Miller, 772-467-2337 / Diane_Miller@flsd.uscourts.gov. (tci) (Entered: 05/30/2023)
05/30/2023 95 PAPERLESS NOTICE SETTING RESTITUTION HEARING as to Daniel Elie Bouaziz: Restitution Hearing set for 8/16/2023 at 1:30 PM in Fort Pierce Division before Judge Aileen M. Cannon. On or before August 10, 2023, the parties shall file any relevant motions, responses, or stipulations on the matter of restitution. (tci) (Entered: 05/30/2023)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: