A Pennsylvania memorabilia dealer arrested on charges of deceptive business practices, theft by deception and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities was sentenced Tuesday.
Roger Hooper faces 10-23 months in jail, $129,000 in fines and court costs and $67,881 in restitution to victims.
The case began in 2005 when Hooper was alleged to have sold sports autographs and other items to dealers across the country using the eBay account of an acquaintance. Ned Kerstetter of Carlisle, PA said the autographed baseball Hooper gave him in return for the favor turned out to be fake and that he used $58,000 of his own money to give refunds to buyers to maintain his good name after receiving complaints by email and phone.
Hooper was arrested and charged in May of 2008 after another collector from Virginia filed a fraud complaint regarding the purchase of about $5,000 in items that turned out to be counterfeit or tampered with, including re-sealed sports card wax packs.
Investigators say they found evidence of a re-sealing operation inside Hooper’s home.
Hooper was convicted in October of last year. The Cumberland County judge allowed Hooper to remain free on $30,000 bond pending the outcome of an appeal, according to PennLive.com.
Hooper has maintained his innocence. He ten days to file his appeal and if he fails to do so in 10 days, the sentence will be carried out.
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