Anthony J. Tremayne, a former West Covina resident, has conceded to a life of deception, pleading guilty to mail fraud for selling counterfeit memorabilia. The 58-year-old's fraudulent enterprise spanned nearly a decade, duping unsuspecting customers into purchasing forged signatures of celebrity luminaries adorning supposed relics of their greatness. Tremayne, who has since moved to Rosarito, Mexico, admitted his guilt in a plea agreement, acknowledging that from 2010 to 2019 he was actively engaged in this deceitful trade.
Relying on the authenticity of Tremayne's wares, customers were hoodwinked into parting with their cash for items claimed to be signed by the prolific, including a "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" photograph bearing bogus autographs from several of the show’s stars. When sending the forged goods to purchasers, Tremayne sometimes included a “Certificate of Authenticity” form, assuring the genuineness of the signatures, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported. These certificates were as phony as the autographs they vouched for.
The deceit unraveled when, in November 2019, an undercover FBI agent in Anaheim received a forged signed photo of the Kardashian clan from Tremayne in exchange for $200. According to court documents, Tremayne's fraudulent earnings from these sales were estimated between $250,000 and $550,000. The investigation by the FBI has culminated in the justice system drawing the curtain on Tremayne's operation.
With justice looming on the horizon, Tremayne now faces the possibility of two decades in federal incarceration. United States District Judge James V. Selna has marked August 11 for the sentencing hearing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier of the Orange County Office.
