Good News - Man sentenced to prison for selling fake cards

[NoleinJax]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb5wlbvxP1g

[awz50]

One of a ton.

Ebay needs to crack down at some point. RP or Art card is not a valid excuse

[superdan49]

Interesting that Homeland Security was involved.

Also interesting that the crime he was convicted for was committed in 2019.

[NoleinJax]

Originally Posted by superdan49

Interesting that Homeland Security was involved.

Also interesting that the crime he was convicted for was committed in 2019.

He was convicted in the 1990's for doing the same thing. He's been doing it for decades and has likely scammed people out of at least a million over that period. Yes, there's more work to be done, but this is a start and better than nothing.

[auburn35]

Originally Posted by superdan49

Interesting that Homeland Security was involved.

Also interesting that the crime he was convicted for was committed in 2019.

Yeah, also found it interesting that this individual supposedly specialized in graded cards but none of the various articles or court documents highlighted any graded items.

This thread has some pre-sentencing info.
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1533545

[jdhaugh11]

Well now maybe Adam Sandler can portray him in the Netflix movie he is supposedly making about high end cards.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by auburn35

Yeah, also found it interesting that this individual supposedly specialized in graded cards but none of the various articles or court documents highlighted any graded items.

This thread has some pre-sentencing info.
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1533545

In a way making cards from scratch isn’t all that different than making real cards look better.

[auburn35]

No sentencing yet but here's another alleged hobby scammer that was recently busted, while on supervised release from a prior federal conviction. Oops.

ROCHESTER MAN ON FEDERAL SUPERVISED RELEASE ARRESTED AND FOR FRAUDULENTL BUYING AND SELLING SPORTS CARDS

Upstate trading card fraudster duped buyers and sellers of $33k, prosecutors say

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Kyle Bertrand, 34, of Greece, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire and mail fraud. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that Bertrand is currently serving a term of supervised release following 2017 federal fraud and identity theft convictions. Between October 2021, and February 2022, Bertrand advertised on various social media and online forums that he had collectible sports cards for sale, and he also attempted to purchase sports cards that were being sold by other individuals. However, according to the complaint, Bertrand advertised sports cards for sale that he either never possessed or never intended to deliver. For instance, Bertrand advertised sports cards that were collectible in nature and valued highly. His ads appeared legitimate and contained appropriate information and images. When contacted by an interested buyer, Bertrand negotiated a sale price, and then directed the buyer to send payment by wire through a mobile payment service. After receiving the payment, he would send the buyer confirmation that the cards had been shipped. But, instead of receiving cards, buyers received empty boxes or cards of negligible value. In other instances, Bertrand stole collectible cards by contacting sellers, negotiating a purchase price, and making payment via credit card through a credit card processing service. Sellers would then mail the cards to Bertrand, who would then dispute his credit card payment through the credit card company, revoking the payment issued to the seller.

Bertrand defrauded a total of six victims in Florida, Ohio, Missouri, and Pennsylvania out of approximately $33,360.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Stansbury.

[seanbros55]

Wonder how many of these packs got authenticated by BBCE?

[mwheeler27]

This is GREAT news and a good start!

I wonder how long it will be before the FBI catches up with that Gregg guy for selling all kinds of fake Topps Living Set cards?

[K111]

I have a really hard time believing there aren't fakes that are slabbed up and graded 8s and 9s and maybe 10s

[SupermanBrandon]

Dang...when I read that headline I immediately ran thru a long list of IG "influencers" that I was hoping it was. This didn't make the bingo card.

[PeteD]

Card Cop is giggly somewhere...a win.

[Buford]

Maybe he can share a cell with those guys who stuffed weights in their Walleye up on Lake Erie.

[pip]

Originally Posted by NoleinJax

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb5wlbvxP1g

2.5 years in prison. The card molesters in my sig line sure better hope that FBI doesn't name them in its indictment, or they'll be joining Kennert for at least that long. 43k is one thing. Defrauding customers by five or ten times that amount is quite another.

[awz50]

Originally Posted by Buford

Maybe he can share a cell with those guys who stuffed weights in their Walleye up on Lake Erie.

Pro sport fishing forever!!!

[auburn35]

Originally Posted by seanbros55

Wonder how many of these packs got authenticated by BBCE?

Can't believe this crook is still able to sell these packs!

Looking at this old thread and some of his seller feedback that Houdini copied in 2016, luckily several buyers and/or BBCE did notice the fraudulent packs. Maybe some items passed (lots of positives ) but these don't appear to have been good reseals on the packs.

[auburn35]

Thought I would use this thread to post about a third scammer, busted this week.

Pa. man sentenced after scamming victim during sports card sale

Michael Benjamin, 37, was sentenced to incarceration in the Bradford County Correctional Facility for 6 months to 42 months followed by Probation Supervision for a term of 18 months by the Bradford County District Attorney’s Office. The sentencing comes after an investigation into incidents that occurred in Tuscarora Township and Athens Township in 2020 and 2021.

Police said that Benjamin had multiple opportunities to refund the money sent to his PayPal account by the victim, but never did.

Benjamin was ordered by the Bradford County District Attorney to pay restitution of $50,327, for the offenses of Theft by Deception, Felony 3, Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3, and Retail Theft, Felony 3.

[M4YH3M1]

So good to see scammers getting legitimately busted and serve jail time!!

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by superdan49

Interesting that Homeland Security was involved.

Also interesting that the crime he was convicted for was committed in 2019.

They seem To have their hands in the counterfeit game. When the white sox and cubs each made the World Series, homeland security was involved in getting fake merch off the streets.

[auburn35]

Another recent sentencing.

Traveling Card Shop Thief Gets 5-Year Prison Sentence

"A 38-year-old Knoxville, TN man has been sentenced to five years in prison and restitution for a string of sports card shop burglaries in four states last year.

Jason L.Cates, 38, was sentenced in federal court Monday for conspiring to transport stolen sports cards and other sports merchandise across state lines."

[imbluestreak23]

Good! Heard about that break in and glad the short dick got caught

[auburn35]

Here's an interesting one, that I recently came across. Former Cubs draft pick, Sutton Whiting was charged with breaking into a Louisville, Ky card store and then attempting to sell some of the items, six hours later at a different local card store.


Full article, if anyone was interested in reading.
Former UofL baseball player arrested for stealing high-value sports trading cards

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A former University of Louisville baseball player was arrested last year after being accused of stealing high-value sports trading cards and trying to resell them.

Sutton Whiting was charged with third-degree burglary, receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, and first-degree criminal mischief.

On Nov. 16, 2022, Whiting used a crowbar to break into the back door of Through the Decades, a game store off South Hurstbourne Parkway, according to his arrest citation.
Once inside, he broke a glass counter and reportedly stole $40,000 worth of sports trading cards. Other trading cards were damaged by the broken glass, police said. The damage was valued at over $1,000.

When the shop owner arrived and saw that his merchandise had been taken, he notified similar shops in the area that someone may come to their stores to sell the stolen cards.

Police said six hours later Whiting went to the Louisville Sports Cards in Middletown and attempted to sell three of the stolen trading cards that were valued at $9,480.
The manager of the store recognized the cards and told Whiting he knew they were stolen. That's when Whiting then fled the scene, but left his vehicle at the store, the citation said.

The store manager contacted Middletown Police and Whiting's vehicle was towed for police investigation. With a search warrant, police were able to search the vehicle.

Investigators found a hat and a yellow sling bag that Whiting was reportedly wearing when he entered Through the Decades. Two of the stolen cards were also found inside the bag.

He was arrested two days after the break-in.

According to authorities, both the robbery and when Whiting attempted to sell the high-value items were captured on video surveillance inside the stores.

Whiting played for the Cardinals between 2012-2015. He served as the team's captain in 2014 and 2015 and was a 24th round pick for the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.

He remains in custody at Metro Corrections on a $10,000 cash bond.

[auburn35]

Came across this video on Sports Collectors Daily and thought this thread of scams would be a good one to share the story.

Scammer impersonating former Baltimore Orioles player to sell memorabilia.
https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...lk-signatures/

[Retired hobbist]

Sometimes I wonder if there any good guys left in this hobby as this is just the tip of the iceberg with scammers.