In the 1990s, the FBI uncovered a massive forgery ring flooding the U.S. with fake sports and celebrity memorabilia. “Operation Bullpen,” as it was known, became one of the agency’s most successful undercover operations, ultimately leading to the seizure of millions of dollars in counterfeit goods and the dismantling of a nationwide network of forgers and distributors. The investigation began with a focus on forged autographs of Chicago athletes but quickly expanded to encompass a vast array of counterfeit memorabilia. The FBI, working with the IRS, went undercover, posing as a distributor in …