John Olson (forger)

John Olson is a forger associated with the FBI's Operation Bullpen investigation. He pled guilty to forging thousands of Muhammad Ali and various other autographs. The FBI gathered information on the ring during a previous sting known as operation FOUL BALL. They launched the investigation that would ultimately culminate with a bust on October 13, 1999. They took down the biggest forgery ring in sports memorabilia history.[1] Chuck Wepner, a former opponent of Ali and tough man boxer from Bayonne, New Jersey, would vouch for the autographs and John Olson and others would sign the items.[2][3]

In 2013 John Olson resurfaced selling more forgeries to a local New Jersey man under the guise of being a sick and dying man selling memorabilia. He perpetrated the scam by showing a photo album that had him up close and personal with many of the boxers and athletes that he did the forgeries of.[4]

## References

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1. ^ Operation Bullpen: The Case That Has Never Gone Away | Sports Collectors Daily | Sports collecting news
2. ^ ‘Champions Forever’ sigs: Real or fake? | Bullpen & More, by Kevin Nelson
3. ^ FBI — Operation Bullpen
4. ^ OPERATION BULLPEN 2013 - My Encounter with John Olson – COLLECTIBLES NJ