Complaint Review: Daniel Bohlmann - Nogales AZ

The following data is being submitted to add clarity and concise professional evidence concerning what trained and seasoned criminologists desribe as , "serial scam/con-artist' profile. This is NOT intended in anyway to embarass, humiliate, or slander/libel the named parties. On the contrary, the intent is to summarize current available criminal &/or civil information in a condensed form so that the reader can draw their own conclusions. 

The purpose of this submission is to counter Patrick Cusack, of San Carlos, Mexico, aka "Luke Cusack's of Tucson, Az"  and/or his self proclaimed "partner"/associate, Dianne York aka Dianne Bushenlonga's, of Kamloops & Swan River, Canada and San Carlos, Mexico, in their proactive attempt to utilize all social media and direct personnal contact, with an admitted goal to discredit, harrass, humiliate and extort substantial funds for their unjustifiable financial gain.

Cusack, and his accomplice York, have submitted false information and alleged knowingly fraudulent accusations against a renowned artist in an attempt to procure large sums of money. (SEE: RIP OFF REPORTS #1510184) ALL elements of their submission are false and have been analyzed by a former 17 year CIA operative highly trained to identify scam/con-artist as well as a professional art authority and a International Business executive and avid art collector. 

An extensive rebuttal was submitted clarifying all issues and in addition refutation of all "FAKE" claims made. Also, the parties were offered a 100% refund of Cusacks $3,000 purchase ($2,000 cash & $1,000 trade in his restaurant) as a gesture of good will all of which has been refused in their continuing attempt to "destroy our lives over social media" and gain financial windfall.

All data is being submitted herein as an effort to provide "Caveat Emptor" to anyone considering doing business dealings with those people identified by professionals as "serial scam/con-artists". This is being reported as an effort to provide truthful analysis of Cusack & Yorks course of conduct so that the viewing public can review clear and convincing evidence and thereby make their own conclusions on a level playing field.

This is in response to the unwarranted, slanderous (spoken) and libelous (written) false statements and absurd representations being made and orchestrated by an acknowledged “Con Man” according to the “Rip off Report, March 3, 2013” of using the alias Patrick Cusack AKA “Luke Cusack of Tucson, AZ”. Luke Cusack’s latest defamation attempt is allegedly being coordinated & orchestrated by his “partner” (according to Cusack’s own statements), Diane York, AKA Dianne Bushenlonga, originally of Canada. Other sources to verify Cusack’s prior alleged Modus Operandi (MO) in USA include but are NOT limited to: “Truth Finder”, “Dun & Bradstreet”, “The Dirty”, “Luke Cusack Blog May 5, 2012.”

DISCLAIMER: It Is critical to note that this is being submitted with total respect for the Mexican legal system and is not intended to relate to any current ongoing criminal and or civil investigation, filings, or reference to any related evidence. I will not comment on current evidentiary matters that have been submitted to proper legal authorities. References to Luke Cusack and his modus operandi, are based on prior evidentiary matters occurring in the USA legal system as noted in his “Rip Off Reports.” Virtually hundreds of pages of USA public records from 1990-2017 as verified by those alleged harmed people named.  I personally disavow any liability whatsoever of others’ claims.  This is solely being submitted so that the reader can research and make their own judgment of who are the real culpable parties.

This reply will address Luke Cusack and his associates laughable and totally unsubstantiated “fake art claims.” It is incumbent and encouraged for all interested parties to view all the undeniable and indisputable former civil and criminal actions in USA brought against “Luke Cusack of Tucson, AZ” (simply search his REAL name, YOU WILL BE SHOCKED!!). There you will find hundreds of pages and numerous articles alluding to nefarious claims by those harmed by Luke Cusack. One such article in RIPOFF Reports, March 3, 2013, is entitled, “LUKE CUSACK, CON MAN, LIAR, SCAMMER, BANKRUPT, DISREPUTABLE, DISHONEST, TUCSON,AZ.” Many other sites illustrate the character of what they claim is a “serial Con Man.” This, in conjunction with his numerous civil and criminal encounters has resulted in his 30-year plus professional con man career. There are over 30 pages summation of Luke Cusack’s USA legal entanglements from the 1990’s to approximately 2020 documented.  This includes his approximately $8,000,000 bankruptcy, various criminal charges, Federal & State Tax Liens, as well as numerous former employee abuse claims.

Now, with that necessary background information, the accusation of “Fake Art” claims can be put in proper context. The “Fake Art” claim in question is an original painting created by someone, but apparently not by the signature on the painting. We acquired the original art piece about 15 years ago via a second-hand resale source with no validation (provenance), as to the art’s certificate of authenticity. The authorship of the work was not important to us. We only acquired it as a “trade in,” for about $9,000 USD, credited for some art we were selling. We only wanted and used the “trade in” artwork as a decorative piece in our California home.

Cusack saw the art in our storage area and requested to purchase it in approximately 2018. At all times before, during, and after the sale of the artwork to Cusack, he was fully aware that the artwork had no authentication as to the origin, value or authorship. He was told, and he fully understood, that to properly insure the work he would have to have it appraised and certified by a qualified dealer. He said he only wanted the piece to hang on his wall, since it reminded him of his late mother.  It was sold to him “as is where is” with no representations, expressed or implied! Cusack indicated he never intended to sell the work and that authentication as to the arts origin and provenance/value was unimportant to him. Cusack clearly understood that it was like purchasing a car with no title, no proof of origin, he would have to verify the piece, at his expense!  He understood that art verification of value was just like a title to a car or home, or even jewelry, like a diamond ring, with gemologist statement of quality and value!

Now, in an unrelated matter, in January of 2021, we hired Cusack’s construction company to complete a remodeling project for us, which Cusack guaranteed not to exceed $24,400 USD, and/or construction time of no more than 10 weeks (which would have been completed the first part of April 2021).  He rapidly went over his guaranteed amount of money and time, and needed additional funds, but promised IN WRITING that he would repay whatever amount it came to at that time (already $40,000. USD over budget!).  Cusack requested more funds, and when we refused to give him any more funds, he walked off the job!

Cusack then said he was going to sell the painting to help him financially. We again told him he would have to have the piece certified and appraised by an authorized dealer to obtain maximum resale funds. He claims he verified the piece was not created by the named artist and goes on to claim the artwork is “worthless”. Obviously, the artwork was created as an original by someone, and if not the artist noted, then it potentially was created by someone that was a current or former assistant/student of the noted artist or someone copying the artist.

At that point, we immediately offered to pay Cusack a full refund of $3,000 USD, explaining regardless of who painted the work, it had some value as an original work created by someone. BUT HE REFUSED TO RECEIVE 100% OF HIS PURCHASE PRICE!

Cusack responded with absurd financial demands and threats to ruin my wife and me on social media (i.e. Rip Off Reports, et al) and other avenues. (Rip Off reports, Facebook, etc., unsubstantiated claims to the police, other Mexican authorities, as well as other threats). He submitted a multi-page demand letter with shocking elements that can not be disclosed per Mexican Law.  At the time we received his “demands” and prior to any filing of charges or hiring legal counsel; we sent the demand letter immediately to others in the community that had been financially harmed by Cusack. All recipients of the demand letter were SHOCKED!!

We immediately hired legal counsel to have the matter properly heard. Since Cusack and his accomplices utilized the internet numerous times, we are pursing appropriate legal action in USA and Canada for litigation of all appropriate matters in those venues.

Cusack and his associates have now gone to great lengths to fabricate a story that Sharie’s Romantic, mostly copyrighted paintings, are “Chinese copy art.” The truth of the matter is that most, if not all, of Sharie’s original art creations are copyrighted and certified by the US Government Copyright Registration Office over the last 30 or 40 years and enforceable in most International Countries including Mexico.

From Sharie’s original creation she can paint a copy of the work and then repaint some or all the work by changing the scene and possibly keeping some of the original design that blends with the new original. This is very commonplace with established artists, and it is known globally as “Derivative Original” art creation.

We have shared the derivative original art definition with Cusack and provided him copies of over 12 legal art scholar reference books as well as US Copyright legal protection definitions all of which clearly protect the artist and their new “derivative original art” creation. Unfortunately, being the consummate “Con man” as Rip Off Reports calls him, Cusack chose to totally disregard the lawful definition of “derivative original art,” and created a false scenario of “fake art.”

It is interesting to note that historically, legendary artists such as Michelangelo, Rubens, Rembrandt and countless others employed “assistants’ to help create works for them and often used similar scenes or “repainted” over existing originals to recreate a new or derivative original.

For the novice reading this, it should be clarified as an example of “derivative original art” that even the great Michelangelo hired Francesco Granelli to employ numerous assistants to help him paint the legendary Sistine Chapel.  These artist assistants created figures, designs, and elements of the painting, followed up by Michelangelo adding his unique touches and design concepts as he deemed necessary and appropriate.  The completed work was an original art piece, totally attributed to Michelangelo, although large portions were executed by “assistants.”  Now fast forward some 25 years later and Pope Clement VII commissioned Michelangelo to return with assistants to cut down two scenes and create “The Last Judgment” scene.  This was a clear example of the artist taking his original (which was partially created by assistants) and changing it to create a now “derivative original;” i.e. a new original derived from the prior original and although assistants were employed to help create the completed work, Michelangelo received 100% artist credit for the completed “derivative original.”  Now to further explain this well-accepted art form, upon Michelangelo’s death, the artist, Daniele Da Volterra was commissioned by the pope to paint over some of the nudes and make changes to Michelangelo’s work and now Da Volterra has created another “derivative original” which he can rightfully claim authorship to!!

Of course, if you read the false accusations of Cusack and his named accomplices, they would have you believe that Michelangelo, Rubens, Rembrandt and countless other great artists throughout the years created “fake art” by using assistants and/or painting over previously created art works to create new originals.  All one merely has to do is to go to any established art museum and ask the curator how many of the “original” art pieces in their collection are in fact paint overs resulting in one or more paintings remaining under the one you are viewing and often thereby “derivative” originals!!

 A con artist on a mission to deceive and discredit will go to any lengths to attempt to distort the truth and portray the innocent party as the criminal and the “con artist” is merely the victim!  Everyone harmed by con artist in the past will attest to their deceptive practices.

 Contemporary artists, such as Jeff Koons, sell original works that they don’t create at all, they only offer the concept. Koons recently sold a work for $58 Million USD and freely admits he never even touched the creation piece! Other renowned artists including Warhol, Peter Max, Dale Chihuly and countless others utilize “students” to implement their original concepts and sign their name to the finished works. All the final products can be copyrighted and sold as the artist original or derivative original works.

The bottom line is Sharie diligently plans, executes her designs, layout, focal point, color choices, etc., on each of her original creations. If the final original works becomes very popular, then she may choose to vary distinct elements of the original and make a new “derivative original” from that work.

SHE CAN REPAINT ON ANY MEDIUM SHE CHOOSES INCLUDING A “CANVAS PRINT” AND THEN RECREATE HER “DERIVATIVE ORIGINAL” OR IF 100% REPAINTED AND REDESIGNED IT IS NOW A NEW ORIGINAL!! Then the completed “Derivative Original” can be legally copyrighted by the artist.

Her “Rooms with Views” series is a perfect example where she may retain much of the foreground imagery and then substantially recreate a totally new background scene. (See www.shardan.com for artist biography and a video of her creating an original painting.) Of course, Luke Cusack & his associates’ actions are a serious and personal afront, created by the noted “con artist,” to attempt to create false representations relating to Sharie’s six decades of extraordinary artistic success.

Sharie has designed and copyrighted literally tens of thousands of creative designs over the last 60 plus years. She has been commissioned by US Presidents, major celebrities and corporations to create her unique art style for their respective needs. Her works are celebrated and featured in venues throughout the world. Her personal philanthropy is legendary where she has contributed several million dollars’ worth of retail art to support needy charities in their silent & live auction fundraising programs.  The City of Palm Springs recognized Sharie’s phenomenal career achievements in 2007 by awarding her a granite sidewalk star on the Celebrity Walk of Fame. At 81 years, Sharie, with a frail heart condition, will not condone this insane activity to attempt to discredit a perfect unblemished career!

These “con artists” are DESPERATE, and they have been discovered as “frauds” in the USA & Canada. We appreciate the countless numbers of supporters who have come to Sharie’s defense and nullified all the slanderous and libelous actions of “The Con Artist” conspirators!!

Cusack and his accomplices are attempting to do what they promised in Cusack’s threats, namely, to defame Sharie’s art career, my legal business career, file unsubstantiated legal actions, etc. all designed to negate his financial obligations.

Cusack has orchestrated his named “partner” accomplice, Dianne Bushenlonga-York, to attempt destroying our lives throughout the Community and on social media. In addition, Cusack has allegedly enlisted his business manager to claim some outlandish claims against Danny. Of course, none of their false claims or activities will succeed as Cusack and his fabricated past has finally caught up with him!!

Now, Cusack’s “FAKE” claims take a whole new meaning when you look at his Facebook page or his promotional materials where he claims to be a Harvard graduate and a University of Arizona Graduate. Both claims are ABSOLUTELY FALSE!! The Registrar’s Office of both institutions are taking appropriate action against Cusack for falsely representing he was a graduate and in fact Harvard confirms he never even attended that institution (copies of fraudulent social media listings are available for your review.)

Dianne Bushenlonga-York has her own set of issues now that The Canadian Government Benefits Fraud Division has an open case against her for “BENEFIT FRAUD”. She claims to be totally and permanently disabled receiving some $5,000 Canadian over the last many years. Her estranged husband, Brett York, as well as her daughters and other witnesses will be called to confirm or deny her disability status and modus operandi including sales of allegedly “knock off” jewelry, watches and other items. The Canadian authorities are in possession of countless video & still shot photos of her drinking, dancing, & partying up a storm!! Mr. York has already admitted to her deception in writing.

We encourage anyone who has been harmed by Cusack and/or his accomplices to contact us anytime or if you desire clarification on any of the issues raised herein.

Additionally, we are pleased to have had several past victims of Cusack from Arizona and San Carlos, come forward and even offer funds to be attributed to litigation costs to be utilized in the successful prosecution of Cusack and his accomplices. We sincerely appreciate the support of the many locals that have been financially harmed by Cusack’s actions and thank you for your efforts to clean up San Carlos!!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I just received confirmation from the US Department of Justice, that jurisdiction of alleged misconduct via international internet correspondence by any US citizen will likely avail me additional US claims for “Elder Abuse and Elder Financial Exploitation under Title 10, et al.”  Additional protection has afforded me as a permanently disabled US Army veteran and VA Hospital treatment for my terminal CLL/SLL stage 2-3 leukemia.  Appropriate pro bono legal representation will be forth coming and targeted to all culpable parties

Respectfully submitted,

Daniel R Bohlmann and Associates