Federal Bureau of Prisons records indicate former Mastro Auctions executive Doug Allen was released this summer after serving about three years and two months of a four year, nine month sentence for fraud. Allen’s release date was listed as July 5. In 2014, Allen pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud charges in connection with a long-running shill bidding scheme he … [Read more...] about Notes: Doug Allen Release; 2 Arrested for Stolen Autographs from KY Shop
Bill Mastro
Card Doctors Could Face Variety of Legal Trouble If Law Pursues
Issues of trust and legitimacy are the biggest takeaways from the recent scandal over graded sports cards that have been trimmed, recolored or otherwise altered. But is there a legal reckoning to come? A professor of law at a South Florida university says it's possible, but cautions it is a difficult process. “This is the crime to commit,” said Bob Jarvis, who has taught … [Read more...] about Card Doctors Could Face Variety of Legal Trouble If Law Pursues
‘American Greed’ Reports on Mastro Auctions Saga, The Hobby
They were once the largest auction company in the sports memorabilia business, delivering catalogs with millions of dollars worth of high-end items multiple times per year. It all came crashing down several years ago amid charges of shill bidding and fraud. The fall of the company and its founder, Bill Mastro, is the subject of a new episode of American Greed, a long-running … [Read more...] about ‘American Greed’ Reports on Mastro Auctions Saga, The Hobby
Mastro Released from Federal Prison Camp
Former Mastro Auctions CEO Bill Mastro was released from the federal prison camp at Pekin, IL last month. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Mastro would have served about 18 months of a 20-month sentence handed down last August, two years after he admitted to various types of fraud from 2002-2009 including an ongoing shill bidding scheme. He began … [Read more...] about Mastro Released from Federal Prison Camp
Theotikos Begins Federal Prison Sentence
Former Mastro Auctions Vice President Mark Theotikos has begun serving his prison sentence for mail fraud. Theotikos was assigned to the federal penitentiary in Marion, IL, just over 300 miles south of the company’s former offices in the Chicago area. He is one of approximately 206 inmates at a minimum security camp, located next to the medium security prison that … [Read more...] about Theotikos Begins Federal Prison Sentence
Third Former Mastro Auctions Rep Sentenced
A third member of the now defunct Mastro Auctions team has been sentenced for his role in a long-running shill bid scheme. Mark Theotikos, 55, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison on Tuesday. His former bosses, Bill Mastro and Doug Allen, are already serving time. Last week, attorneys for Theotikos had asked for probation while U. S. Attorney Zachary … [Read more...] about Third Former Mastro Auctions Rep Sentenced
Allen Begins Serving Prison Sentence
Former Mastro Auctions executive Doug Allen began serving his federal prison sentence on Tuesday. In 2014, Allen pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with shill bidding and other illegal activity that took place inside the Chicago-based company over a period of several years, According to Bureau of Prison records, Allen is in the Federal Correctional … [Read more...] about Allen Begins Serving Prison Sentence
Doug Allen Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison
Legendary Auctions President and former Mastro Auctions executive Doug Allen was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison Monday morning. Judge Ronald Guzman concurred with the recommendation filed by prosecutors last week in the long-running case against one of several Mastro officials. Under federal sentencing guidelines, they could have asked for a longer sentence … [Read more...] about Doug Allen Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison
Allen Attorneys Ask Judge for Leniency
Attorneys for former Mastro Auctions executive Doug Allen have asked a federal judge for mercy ahead of his February 8 sentencing on fraud charges. Submitting a 39-page letter and more than 100 pages of exhibits as part of a pre-sentencing investigation report, attorneys Valarie Hays and Shawna Boothe of Schiff-Harden in Chicago asked Judge Ronald Guzman to sentence … [Read more...] about Allen Attorneys Ask Judge for Leniency
Editor’s Blog: Looking Back at 2015; Looking Ahead
The mother of all extended holidays is over. The NFL regular season? Dust. The season lives for only two college football teams. Holiday merchandise is now 70% off. 2015 is now relegated to the archives but there was plenty to remember as the calendar turned to a new year and a lot to wonder about as 2016 gets underway. Panini America continued to … [Read more...] about Editor’s Blog: Looking Back at 2015; Looking Ahead