Forgeries 'damaged' artist's legacy

‘Principal architect’ of massive fraud scheme handed five years in prison

- MARIE-DANIELLE SMITH

Mass forgeries of Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau’s paintings have caused irreparable harm to the trailblazer’s legacy — and to First Nations art writ large, an Ontario judge acknowledged Thursday in sentencing one of the ringleaders of a sprawling fraud scheme.

David Voss was handed a five-year prison sentence in a Thunder Bay, Ont., court for his role in producing and distributing thousands of Morrisseau fakes from 1996 to the mid-2010s. He had pleaded guilty in June to one count of forgery and one count of uttering forged documents.

Voss is the second person involved in the scheme to receive what is considered a stiff penalty for major fraud. Gary Lamont also got a fiveyear sentence after pleading guilty to two charges. Six others were charged last year.

Justice Bonnie Warkentin’s decision marked a major milestone in the case, with Voss described by Crown prosecutors as the “principal architect” behind the scheme.

“The damage is profound,” Warkentin said as she delivered her ruling.

“The legacy of Norval Morrisseau has been irrevocably damaged. His spirituality has been undermined and tarnished.”

There has also been harm to Canadian art and its overall legacy, Warkentin said, noting there is “international significance” to the case.

Earlier on Thursday, the late artist’s estate and other victims detailed how they were affected.