Federal prosecutors have charged an Ohio man with bank fraud after they say he purchased T206 cards, added phony autographs and sold them for hefty profits.
In court papers filed in Cleveland last week, Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle Baeppler charged Cord Monroe of Girard, OH with one count of bank fraud in connection with the case.
Investigators say Monroe, a/k/a David Scott, purchased 14 unsigned T206 cards beginning in 2015 and after fake autographs were added, consigned them to auctions where they sold for thousands of dollars between 2015 and 2017.
Based on images shared by collectors who had expressed doubt about the authenticity of some of the cards in an online forum, it’s believed most, if not all, had been encapsulated by third party authenticators.
Documents filed in U.S. District Court cited a non-genuine signature on a T206 Eddie Cicotte that sold for $12,925 in July of 2017 and another that sold in October of 2018 for $1,250.
Prosecutors also referenced Monroe’s bank deposits that covered auction proceeds that were issued for a dozen other cards he sold between November 2015 and October 2016 including a group of four cards (Nap Rucker, Billy Sullivan, Wid Conroy and Fred Parent) that resulted in a $26,415 payment and another group of two (Frank Baker and Jesse Tannehill) that generated an $18,810 check.
Other forged cards cited by the court included Red Murray, Bob Rhoades and Heinie Zimmerman, each of which sold for over $5,000, and cards of Elmer Flick, Fred Snodgrass and Paddy Livingston.
The charging documents indicate the two auction companies that sold the phony autographs lost over $73,000 after reimbursing buyers.
Related Stories:
Duren Sentenced to 3+ Years in Prison for Bogus Autograph Business
Oregon Man Charged with Selling Fake Autographs
More Charges Against Accused McDavid Autograph Forger
Edmonton Police Nab Suspect; Take on Case of Fake Connor McDavid Jerseys
Heroes and Villains in the Fake Autographed T206 Story as More are Uncovered
Editor’s Blog: Autographed T206 Forgeries Uncovered
Second Man Sentenced in Bogus Autograph Case
Oregon Man Gets Prison Time for Bogus Autographs
