JUST TRYING TO REPORT A STORY: Cease and Desist…Or “Ceased & Deceased”?

Since July 2, 2022, Randall Scott Smith, the owner of a collection of purported “lost Basquiats”, has persistently threatened me on Ripoff Report — an odious site created by Ed Magedson.

Here are two recent posts.

You’ll note that Smith repeats his “ceased and deceased” in place of “cease and desist”. His word scramble includes “liable” instead of “libel”, and purported federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) violations.

I didn’t attend law school, but something tells me that writing a series of fact-based reports on Medium is not a federal crime.

Pierce O’Donnell has never contacted me, and I’ve written multiple reports — revealing documents even the New York Times didn’t have!

Earlier this year, I began a series of investigative reports about Smith and his association with two Toronto residents (Talin Maltepe and Jason Halter) directly involved with the Orlando Museum of Art’s Basquiat fiasco.

Smith has posted multiple documents related to his “collection” on SCRIBD, including the collage shown below.

Smith even took the “Declaration of Alfredo Martinez”, prepared on behalf of Los Angeles attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, to bolster the Orlando Museum Basquiat collection, and is currently using it on behalf of his Smith collection of “lost Basquiats”.

Here it is.

I have reported Smith’s threats to federal, state and local authorities.

And, I will keep writing.