There have been a lot of fraud cases involving sports memorabilia over the years. The best known is Operation Bullpen, which received national publicity after a massive forgery ring was uncovered in the late 1990s. Innumerable fake autographs were dumped on an unsuspecting public in a scheme that went on for several years. No case, however, has … [Read more...]
Top Banner 486X60
Man Who Ran Real Estate Ponzi Scheme Must Surrender Card Collection
A California man who pleaded guilty to a Ponzi scheme on Monday will have to forfeit a collection of baseball cards valued at more than $31,000 as part of a plea agreement. Seth Adam Depiano, 36, of Clovis, admitted to mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a real estate investment scam, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to … [Read more...]
“He Literally Traded His Freedom for $3 Million Worth of Baseball Cards”
A former electric company supervisor has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison and ordered to pay back nearly $3 million he embezzled from the co-op to build an extensive collection of baseball and football cards. John Pearson "Jack" Willis III, 57, of Arab, AL, pleaded guilty in September to one count of embezzling from an organization that receives federal funds. … [Read more...]
U.S. Attorneys Seek 13-Year Sentence for Rogers Plus Restitution
Christmas is less than a week away but a federal judge may hand former sports memorabilia and photograph dealer John Rogers a big lump of coal on Wednesday. U.S. Attorney John Lausch is asking Judge Thomas Durkin to put the North Little Rock, Arkansas man in prison for over 13 years—and hand him a bill for $23.6 million in restitution to banks and others he … [Read more...]
Man Charged in Massive Fake Autograph Scheme Rejects Plea Deal
The Ohio man charged with setting up a massive autograph forgery ring online has rejected a plea deal. According to news reports in Youngstown, Cliff Panezich and his attorney didn’t accept the Mahoning County district attorney’s offer to accept a prison sentence of no more than seven years. Panezich believes he shouldn’t face more than three years but if the case goes … [Read more...]
Autograph Faker Pleads Guilty; Gov’t to Seek Restitution
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania says a former owner of a group of internet sports memorabilia businesses pleaded guilty Monday before United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, in Harrisburg, PA to a $2.5 million dollar fraud scheme. The Criminal Information was filed in January pursuant to a plea agreement entered … [Read more...]
Transcript Reveals Details of Allen’s Sentencing
It will likely be the year 2020 when former Mastro Auctions executive Doug Allen walks out of whatever federal prison will be his home beginning on May 9. Allen, sentenced in U.S. District Court last week to 57 months, could have more than six months shaved off his sentence for good behavior, but it’ll still be a long stay. It's also one that could have been cut, perhaps in … [Read more...]
US Attorneys: Allen’s Conduct “Reckless and Obstructive”
Government prosecutors say a 57-month sentence for Doug Allen is appropriate—but they wouldn’t object to a federal judge handing down an even longer prison term for the former Mastro Auctions executive. Allen is scheduled to be sentenced by federal judge Ronald Guzman next Monday on fraud charges in connection with shill bidding and other illegal activities from 2002-2009 as … [Read more...]
Ex-Postal Worker Pleads Guilty in $68,000 Sports Card Theft
A Dorchester, MA woman has admitted to stealing $68,668 in sports cards from the U.S. Mail while working as a clerk at the U.S. Post Office. Venecia “Melissa” McLaren, 30, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to theft of mail by a postal service employee. Prosecutors say on Jan. 21, 2015, while working as a clerk at a post office in Roxbury, McLaren stole a Priority … [Read more...]
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty in $2.5 Million Fake Autograph Scheme
Selling fake autographs online is easy...until you get caught. Federal prosecutors say the former owner of a group of internet sports memorabilia businesses based in the Mid-Atlantic states faces a federal prison sentence and restitution after selling huge quantities of fake autographed sports jerseys and other items over a five-year period. Joshua Aaron Shores, 41, … [Read more...]
