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CB Ebay Scams Review of IOS Fine Art
IOS Fine Art

IOS Fine Art review: John c. Golfis is a predator who is wearing a mask of an employer and photographer 27

Author of the review
12:00 am EST
Review updated:
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

IOS Fine Art LLC has proven to be far less relaxing than the Greek Isle of IOS. John C. Golfis has swindled another "investor" to serve as his "middle man" to form a new corporate shell to evade authorities and victimize more people.

John C. Golfis/IOS Fine Art LLC posted the following notice on eBay:

"Welcome! We are a fine art dealer and photo to art producer in Dallas, Texas. We currently have 3 galleries in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and are in the process of buying another in Florida. We have several projects that we work on, we sell originals, we produce giclees for artists and market them and we work in photo to art on canvas for customers.

We have over a dozen artists that we work with as IOS artists and many more that seek us out to do giclees for them. Our system, well it's taken years of research to perfect, but we've finally done just that. The problem with giclees up to now, is that there was always a difference in the colors, the shadowing was off, the expression wasn't just right.

We have now got the only 88 mega pixel camera and designed our own software to ensure that you can't tell a difference between the original painting and the giclee by looking at it, even with a trained eye, the artist themselves can't even distinguish. It's truly amazing and we are very proud of our hard work.

Photo to art is an area that people are really starting to embrace and love! We can take any photo that you've taken and turn it into a masterpiece on canvas in virtually any size. Changing backgrounds, painting garden scenes, you name it, we can do it. We can enhance your photos, do some oil painting on top of it to further enhance it. These truly are our masterpieces! We are getting geared up, as we are also opening a gallery in Canada soon and will then be looking at setting up in Finland!"

What IS truly amazing is John C. Golfis forgot to mention he spent 5 years in a CA prison doing all his supposed "research". In fact, he was released in 2004! Now THAT'S amazing! Before that, he spent time in federal prison and numerous jails after he was arrested for a variety of crimes including kidnapping, securities fraud, worthless checks, rape, assault and fraud by wire.

AND, John C. Golfis forgot to mention that he simply recycles this same information with every scam and is used as a diversion tactic while he blows all your money wining & dining his next victim with money to invest! While doing this, he will place little importance on taxes, bounced checks, paying employees wages, refunding customers their "deposits" or paying those many vendors for the product he uses in his scams to lure the next round of customers, employees and investors.

In fact, John C. Golfis simply plays everyone for a fool while he ENJOYS and BENEFITS from their hard work, money and time.

Report him to police if you've been victimized before he flees the country.

John C. Golfis is a PREDATOR mascarading as EMPLOYER and PHOTOGRAPHER. He has ripped off many in the Los Angeles, Pasadena and Hollywood area prior to fleeing California in 2005. If you attended one of his "hotel seminars" and lost money to him after, report him to police immediately. He targeted many photographers and models in the area and we want justice.

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

27 comments
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art4you
, US
Nov 16, 2020 6:38 pm EST
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Hey artists! Is this true? On October 4, 2020 an artist represented by Artistic Transfer, LLC published the following statement to the Internet:

"John C. Golfis is now operating Artistic Transfer LLC., located out of the Dallas Market Center. The business is registered to Lillian Powell and she is well aware of his criminal history. Lillian appears to be involved just as deeply as John. They solicit artists with promises of becoming rich, being displayed in hotels, and the prestige of having their art presented in the Dallas Market Center. They ask for money up front to create digital graphics and copies, but never provide any return to the artist, even after declaring to the artist that their work has been sold. They just continue to ask for more money."

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LightPrevails111
Los Angeles, US
Mar 14, 2024 2:09 pm EDT
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Replying to comment of art4you

Even further down the John Golfis rabbit hole...his art businesses are fronts for human trafficking. That's where his biggest clients & monetary investments come from. He "owns" Lillian. She's the groomer, akin to Ghislaine Maxwell. He's buddied up with the feds. I tried to open a federal investigation for what this evil man did to me & they would barely look at my report. He is a known criminal in multiple states & countries. But he's a part of the international cult that all the elite, pedo, politicians are in so he can get away with it all. Eff'd it is. Would love to see some justice served.

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Julie Artist
, US
Feb 10, 2019 10:25 pm EST
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Artistictransfer.com/photo-to-fine-art

Photos stolen by JOHN GOLFIS in 2006 when he operated IOS FINE ART LLC and GAMUT CONTROL LLC are currently published to ARTISTIC TRANSFER, LLC website and YOUTUBE video

https://artistictransfer.com/photo-to-fine-art

Stolen Photo #1 appears prominently on this webpage of a couple getting married on the beach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWTVy6egFDs

Stolen Photo #1 appears at 034/1:42
Stolen Photo #2 appears at 1:05/1:42

Copyright infringement is the use of works protected by copyright law without permission, infringing certain exclusive rights granted to the copyright holder, such as the right to reproduce, distribute, display or perform the protected work, or to make derivative works.

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Dentonguy
, US
Apr 13, 2018 8:04 pm EDT
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TAX FORFEITURE public record found:

Ios Fine Art, LLC – Certificate / Charter forfeited: May 30, 2008

Effective SOS Registration Date: 6/27/2006

Mailing Address: 8302 STERLING ST IRVING, TX [protected]

Registered Agent Name: BLUME, STODDARD & MOORE

Registered Office Street Address: 2300 HIGHLAND VILLAGE ROAD SUITE 310 HIGHLAND VILLAGE, TX 75077

Phil Wilson, Secretary of State of Texas finds that:

1. The Secretary has received certification from the Comptroller of Public Accounts under Section 171.309 of the Texas Tax Code indicating that there are grounds for the forfeiture of the taxable entity’s charter, certificate or registration; and

2. The Comptroller of Public Accounts has determined that the taxable entity has not revived its forfeited privileges within 120 days after the date that the privileges were forfeited.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 171.309 of the Texas Tax Code, the Secretary of State hereby forfeits the charter, certificate or registration of the taxable entity as of the date noted above and records of this notice of forfeiture in the permanent files and records of the entity.

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Photographer2
, US
Oct 24, 2017 7:42 pm EDT
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PACER is an electronic public access service of United States federal court documents
and published the following on 10/24/2017:

U.S. District of Minnesota (DMN)
CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 0:09-mj-00108-RHK-1
Case title: USA v. Golfis
Defendant John Constantine Golfis
Represented by Gregory Andrew Abbott
Garnishee Nexafoto, Inc
2964 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250 A
Dallas, TX 75234
ORDER on Writ of Garnishment granting Application as to John Constantine Golfis
Signed by Magistrate Judge Franklin L. Noel on 7/1/2016.

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Photographer2
, US
Oct 24, 2017 7:06 pm EDT
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ICANN WHOIS published the following on 10/24/2017:

https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=nexafoto.com
Domain Name: NEXAFOTO.COM
Registry Domain ID: [protected]_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.bluehost.com
Registrar URL: http://www.bluehost.com/
Updated Date: 2017-10-16T19:12:39Z
Creation Date: 2012-10-31T19:11:52Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2018-10-31T19:11:52Z
Registrar: FastDomain Inc.
Registrar IANA ID: 1154
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@bluehost.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.[protected]
Reseller: BlueHost.Com
The data in the BlueHost.Com WHOIS database is provided
to you by BlueHost.Com for information purposes only,
that is, to assist you in obtaining information about or related to
a domain name registration record. BlueHost.Com makes
this information available "as is, " and does not guarantee its
accuracy.

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Photographer2
, US
Oct 24, 2017 6:49 pm EDT
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Website Advertisement under “NEWS Updates”:
“Dallas-based Seikilos FX Studios and Creative Image Affair to showcase Rishona Studios art/photography in showroom gallery”
“Dallas-based Nexafoto and Rishona Studios to developed photage art for medical and dental office market”

https://web.archive.org/web/20130904232815/http://www.rishonastudios.com:80/

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glen Hegar
published the following on 10/24/2017:

NEXAFOTO, INC.
Texas Taxpayer Number [protected]
Right to Transact Business in Texas FORFEITED
State of Formation TX
Effective SOS Registration Date 11/19/2013
Texas SOS File Number [protected]
Registered Agent Name REYES K ALEJANDRA (AKA ALEJANDRA K REYES)
Registered Office Street Address 2964 LBJ FREEWAY SUITE 250 A DALLAS, TX 75234

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Photographer2
, US
Oct 23, 2017 6:42 pm EDT
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Website Advertisement:
"Creative Image Affair, A division of Seikilos Fx Studios, LLC."
https://web.archive.org/web/20140207195724/http://www.creativeimageaffair.com/

Office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon
published the following:

Audaciter Victus LLC formed 03/23/2010 in Minnesota
File Number [protected]
Status INACTIVE
8/6/2013 Administrative Termination Name Hold Release - Limited Liability Company (Domestic)
Audaciter Victus LLC - Nameholder of Assumed Name Creative Image Affair
File Number [protected]
Status INACTIVE
1/11/2017 Cancellation - Assumed Name Creative Image Affair

Website Advertisement:
Benefit for "The Scottish Rite Children's Hospital"
https://web.archive.org/web/20120301185355/http://www.creativeimageaffair.com/blog.html

Website Advertisement:
"Any Time Fine Art is an authorized distributor in the state of Texas for Creative Image Affair"
https://web.archive.org/web/20121205015235/http://www.anytimefineart.com/contact-us.html

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Photographer2
, US
Oct 23, 2017 5:42 pm EDT
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John C. Golfis and Julie Nguyen v. Edward "Lanny" Houllion, individually and as general partner of Houllion Family, LP and Houllion Family, LP Appeal from 134th Judicial District Court of Dallas County (memorandum opinion )
Julie Nguyen AKA Julie Ann, Julie Anh Lien, Julie Anh Nguyen

https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/fifth-court-of-appeals/2016/05-15-00036-cv.html

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Photographer2
, US
Oct 23, 2017 7:05 pm EDT
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Julie Nguyen AKA JulieNetwork, JulieRE

https://www.facebook.com/pg/julienetwork/about/

https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=julieRE.com

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artist12
, US
Oct 17, 2017 11:32 pm EDT
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He called me from [protected]

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artist12
, US
Oct 18, 2017 6:55 pm EDT
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Replying to comment of artist12

He called from [protected]

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Grand Theft Is A Felony
, US
Jun 30, 2012 12:00 pm EDT
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The wait is over. A Dallas grand jury has confirmed that quality of life and personal security does matter.

John Golfis was recently indicted by a Dallas grand jury for felony crimes that began in 2005 after he fled from California to Texas. The TXDPS Sex Offender Registry currently states that John Golfis is “incarcerated” in Texas and self-employed in “fine art sales”. However, public court documents confirm that John Golfis “declined” the court’s offer of a court-appointed defense attorney and instead hired an expensive “super lawyer” who quickly made certain that John Golfis was released from the Dallas County jail within a few short hours of his arrest.

Those swindled, threatened, or otherwise harmed by John Golfis have been coming forward. Send complaints to DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT SWINDLE SQUAD forgery-dpd@dpd.ci.dallas.tx.us Fax: [protected]

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StopArtFraud
, US
Apr 26, 2011 2:43 am EDT

According to Texas Sex Offender Registry on April 25, 2011 Dallas Police verified John Golfis to be living at 14151 Montfort Drive in Dallas and "self employed" in fine art sales

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LastHollywoodGrl
, US
Mar 27, 2011 7:35 pm EDT

John Golfis attempted to involve me and my husband in a venture that sounded too good to be true- so I "Googled" him and discovered his history of myriad schemes which varied only slightly from what he was trying to do with us. He called himself a "manager"- a few pointed questions to him proved that he knew nothing about the modeling or acting business. He just had some hack taking pictures with a digital camera and posted them on a trumped up website and called himself a "manager". Of course he charged these young people a bundle for the privelege. Another scheme for which he spent time in prison was when he was reselling stolen computers to animation students (inflated prices of course) with the promise of buying everything they could design from them. It is the oldest scam in the book- they used to do it with stay at home moms-selling them sewing machines at exhorbitant prices and promising to buy what they could sew up- of course they never did and left these women on the hook for a lot of money and a cheap sewing machine. I met many who were scammed by Golfis. Why is he out of prison? He can't help himself. He is a born con-man.

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A scott
, FR
Dec 05, 2009 4:15 pm EST

the company in use to run was called Reel images LLC

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A scott
, FR
Dec 05, 2009 4:14 pm EST

John Golfis is a crook, and a con artist, he use to run a company in The Los angeles area in 1999 ( or around then) and i worked for him for one week, he never paid me and he coned me into putting 5, 000 dollars into investment plan for his company similar to a 401k, and i never got anything back and of course lost my $ 5, 000.
a lot of people that I used to work and who also lost a lot of money, filed complaints and he was sentence to jail in the San Fernando Valley.. I guess he is out now and operating his scheme !
BEWARE he is a big time con artist..so stay away from this man!

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AndJustice4All
minneapolis, US
Aug 13, 2009 10:39 pm EDT

For those of you wondering where to find John C. Golfis:

On August 12, 2009 John Constantine Golfis was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison.

Here's a few quotes from Golfis' public sentencing hearing:

THE COURT: The defendant agreed to make full disclosure of his financial circumstances including the finances of his wife to the Probation Office and to the United States. Full financial disclosure included the following for the past three years: Financial information regarding any business that the defendant is in involved with, all income, all bank accounts, all property, all vehicles, tax records for the past three years, and any other assets.

THE COURT: It appears to me that the defendant has a prior criminal record dating back to at least as early as 1982 involving fraud-related crimes. It appears to me there was a 1982 conviction in Florida, a 1982 conviction in Texas, a 2001 conviction in Los Angeles County of California.

THE COURT: It also appears to me, based on the information set forth in the Pretrial Service Investigation Report, that the defendant has failed to comply with the obligation he undertook in the plea agreement to provide a complete disclosure of financial circumstances to the Probation Office. For all of those reasons, it is the judgment of the Court that as a penalty for the conviction to which the defendant has pleaded guilty and as to which the Court has accepted the defendant's guilty plea, that he be committed to the custody of the Attorney General for a period of six months.

COUNSEL FOR GOLFIS: Your Honor. Would we have some ability to have Mr. Golfis take time to get his affairs in order?

THE COURT: No, sir.

COUNSEL FOR GOLFIS: I would like to object to that ruling.

THE COURT: Okay. Your objection is noted.

THE COURT: It is also a part of the sentence that defendant is ordered to make restitution in the amount of $391, 400.

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artguy
Los Angeles, US
May 23, 2009 7:18 am EDT

John Golfis and Gamut Control are crooks. Golfis is a career felon and known sociopath. He lies and cheats and rapes, literally. He is a convicted sex offender.

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crime victim
, US
May 19, 2009 12:43 pm EDT
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I had sent this posting in TWICE. The first time it was not posted, likely because I declined to be a "registered subscriber" and the second time it was simply corrupted and disappeared when I hit the "submit" button. I'm writing this third time in a abbreviated form since I am a CRIME VICTIM of John Golfis and really insist that anyone else who even THINKS they have been victimized by Golfis should take action. My previous messages went something as follows:

THERE IS A GOD ! John Constantine Golfis has pled "guilty" to a crime before the U.S. District Court in Minnesota. Here is your chance to state your grievances to someone in the position to make a difference in the upcoming sentencing hearing, in determining whether Golfis should be let out again to continue victimizing others, whether he should be incarcerated for this recent admission of a federal crime.

DO NOT WAIT...NOTIFY THE JUDGE AND THE PRE-TRIAL OFFICER NOW ABOUT YOUR GRIEVANCES WITH JOHN CONSTANTINE GOLFIS.

Nicole Schroden - pre-trial officer making the recommendation for sentencing to the judge
phone: [protected] or [protected]
FAX: [protected] (putting it is writing is better)

Hon. Franklin L. Noel - Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
9 W U.S. Courthouse
300 South Fourth St.
Minneapolis, MN 55415
phone: [protected];
FAX: [protected]

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Rachel
Whittier, US
May 12, 2009 12:29 pm EDT

I am an Los Angeles Artist and have been swindled by this crook. Why isn't someone doing something about it. I have some of my works on Gamut Control website and I have no accountability if they were forged or sold. I signed 150 small prints and was suppose to recieve $750.00 and still nine months later have not received any funds. They are other Los Angeles artist with the same predicament. He is nothing but lies and keeps telling me the check is in the mail. He is running his business through other art galleries and if you try to contact him on any phone numbers they are no longer working. I for one is spreading the word out and suing this crook John Golfis, Gamut Control. SPREAD THE WORD TO OTHER GALLERIES AND ARTIST WE HAVE TO PROTECT AND SPEAK FOR ARTIST.

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Kristy
,
Sep 18, 2008 2:23 pm EDT

Well if anyone is currently wondering where John is working. The name of the business is called Gamut Control now. DON'T TRUST HIM AT ALL! HE LIES!

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Clement L
,
Jul 16, 2008 8:32 pm EDT

Does anyone know what John Golfis's relationship with www.fineartregistry.com is? I was told that he probably was the originator of it, setting Teri Franks up as CEO.
If you go there it makes sense.
Then, check out thier forum. They run public smear campaigns and live to bring anyone who crosses them down. The postings read like a nest of vipers!
FAR, Fine Art Registry, also has strong to a guy named Bruce Hochman-another shady character, again, playing a major role with FAR.
Teri Franks, John Golfis, Bruce Hochman...artists scammed by this "consumer advocates" group.

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Reality Check
,
Sep 09, 2007 9:51 pm EDT

USA v Yali Huang & Yongping Liu

Mary Ding Golfis partners in Two-X, Inc. recently sent to prison!

Mary Ding Golfis business partner and immigration attorney, Yali Huang of Houston, was recently convicted and sent to federal prison for operating a major immigration fraud scheme using non-existent or "shell" companies, forged documents and money laundering. Court records say this scheme began several years ago and involves the majority of her clients seeking VISAs and B-1 extensions (FBI's Operation Shanghai Surprise).

Two-X, Inc. was incorporated from Houston by Mary Ding Golfis (aka Shuping Ding), Yali Huang and Mary Liu (aka Yongping Liu). Mary Liu was also convicted and sent to prison for her involvement with Huang. All corporate filings for Two-X, Inc. submitted by Mary Ding Golfis lists the same Houston address where Yali Huang operated her fraud scheme.

Shuping Ding fled Houston to San Gabriel near Los Angeles and changed her name to "Mary" just after meeting John Golfis in 2004 when he was released from prison where he had served several years for multiple felonies including grand theft by fraud using non-existent or "shell" companies, forged documents and money laundering. John Golfis faced a parole violation and going back to prison if caught operating another business.

With only "massage spa" experience, Mary Ding Golfis incorporated American Virtual Dimensions, Inc. in California and listed herself as President while John Golfis operated this "photography" business using website www.avdshowcase.com. Mary Ding Golfis and John Golfis opened bank accounts at Bank of America in Burbank and Temple City. Mary Ding Golfis signed checks and John Golfis collected the deposits then did not deliver. Just before fleeing California in 2005, John Golfis took $3,000 from a customer under false pretenses then quickly cashed the checks at Bank of America and made no attempt to return the money or deliver as promised. Many others have been identified that also lost money under similar circumstances. California statutes define this as grand theft by fraud and each count is a felony.

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Reality Check
,
Jul 18, 2007 10:16 pm EDT

There are hundreds of complaints filed against John Golfis in many states over the past 4 (four) decades which easily disputes any false statement claiming that "he has done nothing wrong" and is "ethical".

John Golfis is a career criminal which he achieved from his many arrests, convictions and incarcerations.

Anyone that chooses to ignore the obvious and CONTINUE TO ASSOCIATE with him and promote him to be something other than THE ACTIVE CRIMINAL THAT HE IS, should be held accountable with him when investigations conclude.

Just because Golfis hasn't been arrested - YET - doesn't mean he isn't breaking the law. It is a violation of the law to divert assets using legal entities and 3rd parties to further a crime.

Bankruptcy fraud has no statute of limitation and John Golfis has an adversary complaint on file against him for bankruptcy fraud after he diverted assets. A summons was issued against Golfis in that case but he fled from state to state until he landed in a California prison to pay for crimes related to a completely different group of victims (each group was over 100). Golfis has not paid any of these victims back either despite the court ordered restitution as part of his criminal sentencing on 9/12/2001 in Los Angeles County.

Facts show that John Golfis has not paid his many debts to society.

HERE IS A SMALL SAMPLING OF THE HUNDREDS OF CASES ON PUBLIC FILE:

Handi-Phone Cordless Systems, Inc.
v
John C. Golfis (personally)
Case #77454 US District Court SD OF NY
Claim: Judgement Granted for $106,000
Foreign Judgement filed in Tarrant County, TX

Sharon and Tony Miller
v
John Golfis (personally)
Notarized Agreement in Dallas County, TX
Claim: Fraud in amount over $15,000

David A Dent v John Golfis DBA Art-In-Motion
Case # 963052 Minnesota US Court
Claim:$ 36,353.36 Amended Claim: over $50,000

I-Bus v John Golfis DBA Vismar Design Group
Los Angeles County
Claim:$21,471.00

Hagen v John Golfis DBA Art-In-Motion
Case #[protected] Hennepin County, MN
Claim: Fraud in amount over $45,928.65

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Tracy Fischer
,
Jul 17, 2007 11:39 am EDT

Let's snap back into reality and not try and be shady and untruthful about the way things really have gone down. It's laughable that you would say that any of these comments came from a "terminated employee". Rather than try and decieve the public yet another time, let's call it like it really happened, at least in my case: your company wouldn't pay me on time with checks that didn't bounce, I got fed up with having to fight for money the company owed me, and so I quit... If you think you can wager a case against the truth, by all means please go for it, but keep in mind, I still have recorded voicemail from John Golfis saved on my cell phones, I still have more than one creditable witnesses to the FACTS and I'll never stop telling the truth to anyone who wants to know - that my dear is not defamation, it's just good old fashioned word of mouth advertisement you've earned your dishonest selves and that is a protected freedom of speech - which I've earned.

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Tracy Fischer
,
Mar 09, 2007 8:06 am EST

I couldn't agree more! I am an ex employee of John C. Golfis, I was working for a few months for him at IOS Fine Art, LLC. in Irving, Texas. The company is still going and Golfis is still there, he's a crook. He wouldn't pay commissions to the artists like they had contracted, I had trouble getting paid every single payday and sometimes the checks would bounce. I finally gave up and cut my losses, it just wasn't worth fighting with him every payday. He's now stolen and defrauded most of the artists he was working with and there may be more. CBS 11 here in Dallas did a story on him in February 2007, he's a crook! He used to tell me that it was obvious that I didn't respect him, because I'd ask and get upset about my paycheck. HELLO - PAY ME ON TIME WHAT YOU OWE ME!

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