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...]
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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...]
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...]
Mastro Begins Prison Sentence at Pekin, IL
Former auction company executive Bill Mastro began serving his 20-month prison sentence this week. Mastro is now inmate #44856-424 at the federal camp in Pekin, IL, 180 miles southwest of his Chicago home. Mastro was sentenced in August, two years after pleading guilty to various types of fraud from 2002-2009 including an ongoing scheme to run up the prices attained at his … [Read more...]
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...]
Lawyers Ask Judge to Keep Mastro Out of Prison
Attorneys for Bill Mastro are asking a federal judge to keep the former auction house executive from going to jail when sentencing is announced August 20. Mastro pleaded guilty in October 2013 to shill bidding customers over an eight-year period ending in 2009 and not disclosing information about valuable collectibles his company handled, including the T206 Honus Wagner, … [Read more...]
Former Mastro IT Director Gets Probation, Fine
Bill Boehm, the former director of information technology for Mastro Auctions, has been sentenced to probation for making false statements to FBI agents during fraud investigation against the now defunct Chicago-based auction house. According to the Chicago Sun-Times and New York Daily News, the 66-year-old Boehm was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman. He’ll be … [Read more...]
Probation Recommended for Mastro Employee
Federal prosecutors have requested probation for a former Mastro Auctions employee who admitted to participating in a shill bidding scheme. William Boehm, the former director of information technology for Mastro, pleaded guilty last year to making false statements to FBI investigators who interviewed him as part of a fraud investigation against the now defunct Chicago-based … [Read more...]
Mastro Employee Changes Plea
Former Mastro Auctions employee William Boehm is expected to plead guilty to making false statements to FBI investigators. A change of plea hearing was set for next Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Boehm, who worked in IT for Mastro, was indicted two years ago and had been slated to go to trial next month. He was facing charges of not being truthful to agents investigating … [Read more...]
