THUNDER BAY — David Voss, 52, has been sentenced to five years in custody for orchestrating one of the largest art fraud schemes in history, which involved the creation and sale of thousands of counterfeit paintings attributed to Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau.
At the sentencing hearing, Justice Bonnie Warkentin described the case as having “local, national, and international significance,” noting the profound damage inflicted by the fraud. “This is more than just an art fraud,” Warkentin stated. “It is the appropriation of a cultural and spiritual identity of one of Canada’s most cherished artists.”
Voss, who pleaded guilty to forgery and uttering forged documents in June, was found to have led a ring responsible for producing between 1,500 and 2,000 fake Morrisseau paintings from 1996 to 2019. These forgeries were distributed to galleries and sold to buyers, significantly undermining the authenticity of Morrisseau’s renowned work.
The case, investigated by the Thunder Bay Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police, revealed that Voss’s ring was part of a larger network responsible for between 4,500 and 6,000 forged Morrisseau artworks globally. Morrisseau, also known as Copper Thunderbird, founded the Woodlands School of Art and is celebrated for his contributions to Indigenous art.
Crown attorney Joseph Heller emphasized the extensive and deliberate nature of Voss’s criminal enterprise. “This was in no way a spontaneous or isolated incident,” Heller said. “It was a well-executed criminal enterprise for which Voss bears significant responsibility.”
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