Those fake autographs seized by the FBI during the investigation of sports memorabilia fraudster John Rogers are doing some good. More than 100 bats and dozens of baseballs carrying phony autographs were donated to an inner city youth baseball program on the south side of Chicago. Teenagers who play in the Amateur City Elite (ACE) program received the new … [Read more...] about Phony Autographed Bats, Balls from John Rogers Case Put to Good Use
FBI
Report: FBI Has at Least One Suspect in Rash of Store Thefts
The FBI has taken over the investigation of a rash of hobby shop thefts in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area last year and may be closer to cracking the case. Four stores and another business that sold valuable cards by mail were burglarized over a few months, resulting in losses of over $250,000. One business had vintage graded cards of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Hank … [Read more...] about Report: FBI Has at Least One Suspect in Rash of Store Thefts
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
Prosecutor: Autograph Scam Ran Five Years; MLB Interested
The five Ohio men who’ve already pleaded guilty for their role in a massive autograph forgery case used hundreds of fake eBay IDs from 2010 through 2014 according to the Mahoning County, OH assistant prosecutor. Marty Desmond told Sports Collectors Daily the scheme involved the sale of phony autographs to at least 25,000 victims during that time, mostly for amounts under … [Read more...] about Prosecutor: Autograph Scam Ran Five Years; MLB Interested
Mastro Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison
Once one of the hobby’s most powerful players, Bill Mastro will soon be an inmate. The former owner and CEO of Chicago-based Mastro Auctions was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to 20 months in prison. The sentence matched the recommendation of government attorneys prosecuting the case. Mastro, 62, has already paid a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to fraud, … [Read more...] about Mastro Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison
Government Seeks 20 Month Prison Sentence for Mastro
Government prosecutors are asking a judge to put the former president of Mastro Auctions in prison for 20 months. In a response to a sentencing memorandum by Bill Mastro’s attorneys filed last week, assistant U.S. attorneys Derek Owens and Steven Dollear say the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others in the sports memorabilia business. Mastro has pleaded guilty to … [Read more...] about Government Seeks 20 Month Prison Sentence for Mastro
Rogers Arrested for Contempt
Arkansas sports memorabilia dealer and photo archivist John Rogers has been arrested for contempt of court. Arkansas Business reported that Rogers was taken into custody at a sports bar in North Little Rock. Rogers, who is facing a litany of civil lawsuits over unpaid debts in connection with his business dealings, will stay at the Pulaski County Regional Detention … [Read more...] about Rogers Arrested for Contempt
Arrest Warrant for John Rogers; New Lawsuit Filed
A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of former sports memorabilia dealer John Rogers who is now facing a contempt order over his refusal to provide asset information to First Arkansas Bank & Trust. A report by Arkansas Business says bank officials will try to have him arrested if Rogers continues to “stonewall collection efforts on its $15 million judgment … [Read more...] about Arrest Warrant for John Rogers; New Lawsuit Filed
Mastro Sentencing Date Set
Bill Mastro, the former head of what was once the sports memorabilia industry's most prominent auction house, will be sentenced on fraud charges August 20. In 2012, Mastro was indicted by a federal grand jury after government prosecutors outlined their case. In October 2013, Mastro pleaded guilty to orchestrating a shill bidding scheme to drive up the prices of certain … [Read more...] about Mastro Sentencing Date Set
Report: FBI Raid Included Cards Listed as Rogers Loan Collateral
As a growing stack of lawsuits against him continues, questions are mounting about the collateral Arkansas sports memorabilia dealer and photo archivist John Rogers listed in exchange for millions of dollars in bank loans that remain unpaid. According to Arkansas Business, federal agents hauled out a double-lock safe containing what Rogers claimed were valuable … [Read more...] about Report: FBI Raid Included Cards Listed as Rogers Loan Collateral