WESTFIELD — Police in Westfield say the investigation into a counterfeit sports memorabilia operation is ongoing, following new developments in a case that has shocked collectors across the country.
Authorities last week seized hundreds of items from a local office park tied to “Mister ManCave,” a company that was run by Brett Lemieux. The company is accused of selling fake signed jerseys, helmets, and other memorabilia, allegedly totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent sales.
Lemieux died by suicide a day after the raid. Before his death, he posted a lengthy Facebook message claiming to have sold over $350 million in merchandise.
Westfield Police addressed the events for the first time in a statement released Thursday morning:
"...A significant quantity of evidence was collected during the searches, including documentation and items related to the alleged counterfeit operation. Investigators are also aware of a social media post made by Mr. Lemieux shortly before his death, in which he gave specific details and named other individuals who may have been involved. This will require additional time to carefully review and investigate all evidence and leads. We are working with various authenticators for technical assistance and the authentication of all seized items..."
One of the people impacted by the scheme is Hans Hesemann of Noblesville, who proudly displayed a signed Peyton Manning jersey in his home until learning last week it may not be real.
"(Peyton Manning) deserves a spot on the wall, man,” Hesemann said.
“My wife had a friend who was able to [say], ‘Hey, I got a hookup on an autographed jersey, let’s make it happen.’ So she did.”
That hookup turned out to be Lemieux.
“I can’t help but kind of sort of feel bad for all the people involved that are being impacted by it,” Hesemann said.
“Again, for me, maybe I end up with one less picture on the wall. I think I’ll survive. But, you know, it’s like, maybe a little bit embarrassing, though, too.”
Still, Hesemann said he isn’t looking for a refund; he wants accountability.
“I think people think they can get away with this sort of stuff,” he said.
“If you worked with this dude and you really knew this was going on, I hope they find you.”
Professional autograph authenticator Steve Grad, who has been featured in Pawn Stars, agrees that more people are likely involved.
“I don’t think there’s any chance [this was a one-man operation],” Grad said.
“You have to have distributors, you have to have people behind it. I think this is going to be an ongoing investigation for a long time.”
Grad argued that the case could have a similar shockwave to that of Operation Bullpen, a covert FBI investigation launched in the late 1990s to dismantle a massive forgery ring that produced and sold fake sports memorabilia and celebrity autographs.
“I think we're going to talk about it in the next eight months, a year, two years, three years down the road,” Grad added.
“I’m still talking about Operation Bullpen, which is 25-something years old. People still talk about it today. Some of those items are still live (in the market).”
Westfield Police say the case is complex and investigators are still combing through evidence, but anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Don Bennett of the Westfield Police Department at dbennett@westfield.in.gov.
The department’s full statement:
In February 2025, the Westfield Police Department initiated an investigation into Mister Mancave LLC, a local business allegedly selling counterfeit autographed sports memorabilia through its online store and various other platforms.
The investigation began after a woman in North Carolina reported receiving fraudulent merchandise from the company. As the case progressed, additional victims were located, each claiming to have purchased autographed memorabilia from Mister Mancave that was later determined to be counterfeit.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Westfield Police executed a search warrant at the Mister Mancave business location in connection with the suspected fraudulent scheme. The following day, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the investigation extended to a residence in the 300 block of Hoover Street. Upon arrival at the residence, officers discovered an individual deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. That individual has been identified as Brett Lemieux, 45, of Westfield, the founder of Mister Mancave LLC and the primary suspect in this case.
The Westfield Police Department acknowledges that any loss of life is a tragedy, and we extend our condolences to Mr. Lemieux’s family and friends during this difficult time. A significant quantity of evidence was collected during the searches, including documentation and items related to the alleged counterfeit operation.
Investigators are also aware of a social media post made by Mr. Lemieux shortly before his death, in which he gave specific details and named other individuals who may have been involved. This will require additional time to carefully review and investigate all evidence and leads. We are working with various authenticators for technical assistance and the authentication of all seized items.
Again, this remains an active and ongoing investigation, and we will give further updates as details unfold. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting, and we appreciate their continued partnership. In October 2024, the Westfield Police Department assigned one of its detectives part-time to the FBI White Collar Crimes Task Force, strengthening our ability to pursue complex financial and fraud-related crimes.
This case is a powerful example of how partnerships and proactive planning can dramatically expand our ability to serve and protect. We are incredibly proud of the professionalism and persistence our detectives and officers have demonstrated throughout this investigation and commend their passion for serving. We also thank our law enforcement partners at the Carmel Police Department, Fishers Police Department, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for their valuable assistance in this case. page 2 No additional information will be provided at this time; updates will be made as they become available.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Detective Don Bennett of the Westfield Police Department at dbennett@westfield.in.gov.
