He worked on most of the major sports memorabilia fraud cases that have made hobby headlines so far this century. From schemes aimed at dumping forged jerseys onto the market to shill bidding and deceit, Brian Brusokas saw it all. The retired FBI agent was a fixture at the National Sports Collectors Convention each year, meeting with auction … [Read more...] about Notes: Retired FBI Guy on The Hobby; Babe Still Hot; Goldin Show to Debut; NFL Draft Pick Autos; More
fbi investigation
East Coast Collector Says He Lost $300k to Man Charged in Sports Card Fraud Case
Mayo Gilbert McNeil, the 82-year-old Colorado man federal authorities say was involved in a scam to sell phony high-grade sports cards, was arraigned in New York on Thursday. According to court papers, a plea agreement could be in the works. His arrest last week on conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges caught the attention of an east coast hobbyist who says he lost … [Read more...] about East Coast Collector Says He Lost $300k to Man Charged in Sports Card Fraud Case
82-Year-Old Colorado Man Charged in $800,000 Sports Card Fraud Scheme
An 82-year-old Colorado man is facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a case involving counterfeit graded sports cards. A complaint unsealed Wednesday morning charges Mayo Gilbert McNeil with knowingly selling fake high-grade cards in a scheme that netted him $800,000 in cash and other card in a scheme that went on for over four years. McNeil was … [Read more...] about 82-Year-Old Colorado Man Charged in $800,000 Sports Card Fraud Scheme
Duren Sentenced to 3+ Years in Prison for Bogus Autograph Business
A judge in Birmingham, AL has sentenced an autograph forger to more than three years in federal prison for wire fraud and identity theft. Douglas Edward Duren, 38, of Atlanta, GA, pleaded guilty to the charges in March. Duren admitted to a long-running scheme of selling fake sports and entertainment autographs on three websites: everymemorabilia.com, neautograph.com, … [Read more...] about Duren Sentenced to 3+ Years in Prison for Bogus Autograph Business
FBI Raid in Michigan Said to Target Phony Art, Sports Memorabilia
The headline in a Detroit newspaper reads "alleged upscale art forgery" but a federal investigation into fancy paintings also includes a troubling discovery for collectors of sports memorabilia. On Tuesday, a team of more than 30 FBI agents raided the property of a Michigan man suspected of creating and selling phony artwork and sports-related items over a period of several … [Read more...] about FBI Raid in Michigan Said to Target Phony Art, Sports Memorabilia
Grand Jury Subpoenas Part of NSCC Events
There were no arrests made, but law enforcement was present at the National Sports Collectors Convention this year. Sports Collectors Daily has learned that multiple FBI agents were at the Stephens Convention Center during the week and that several hobby businesses received subpoenas seeking sales lists, customer records and other material. The effort … [Read more...] about Grand Jury Subpoenas Part of NSCC Events
FBI Returns Brady’s Missing Super Bowl Jerseys to Patriots
Tom Brady's jerseys are back home. The FBI posted a photograph from the New England Patriots offices in Foxboro, MA Thursday afternoon, showing Brady's Super Bowl 49 and 51 shirts flanked by law enforcement officials and team owner Robert Kraft. The valuable jerseys were found in the possession of a Mexican publishing executive following an investigation that … [Read more...] about FBI Returns Brady’s Missing Super Bowl Jerseys to Patriots
Judge Grants Sentencing Delay for 2 Former Mastro Execs
Sentencing for two former Mastro Auctions representatives who have pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges has been delayed until early 2016. Doug Allen and Mark Theotikos had been scheduled to learn their fate on October 14 but as first reported by the New York Daily News Tuesday, attorneys representing the two men filed a motion in U.S. District Court to postpone until … [Read more...] about Judge Grants Sentencing Delay for 2 Former Mastro Execs
Auction Exec Set to Change Plea in Federal Fraud Case
Legendary Auctions was scheduled to conduct a live sports memorabilia auction in Cleveland Friday night with its president and CEO facing federal fraud charges and apparently ready to plead guilty. Doug Allen will become the third former Mastro Auctions employee to admit to charges of shill bidding and other improper practices while helping run Mastro Auctions several years … [Read more...] about Auction Exec Set to Change Plea in Federal Fraud Case
News & Notes: FBI to Return Some Items from AR search, NBA Exec Recalls Launch of Topps’ 69-70 Set
The FBI is planning to return some of the items confiscated during a search of Rogers Photo Archive last week, according to a media report in Little Rock, AR. The Arkansas Times quoted Blake Hendrix, the attorney for collector/dealer John Rogers, as saying an undetermined number of items seized when agents executed a search warrant would not be held. Agents involved in … [Read more...] about News & Notes: FBI to Return Some Items from AR search, NBA Exec Recalls Launch of Topps’ 69-70 Set