Florida coin dealer receives more than 5 year prison term for Ebay fraud

Michigan

MIAMI (AP) — A rare coin dealer has been sentenced to more than five years in prison after admitting he defrauded more than a million dollars from more than 100 people who bought collectibles from him on the e-Bay online auction site.

Martin Eugene Haber pleaded guilty in June to six counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. Another hearing is scheduled January fourth to determine restitution for 100 victims of Haber's fraud.

Prosecutors say 188 complaints were received from May 2001 to January 2005 from buyers who did not receive coins they purchased on e-Bay from Haber. Haber was twice arrested locally but continued to sell items under other names.

Haber says he got deeply into debt and was taking prescription drugs to combat depression when he began committing the crimes. He apologized to the victims and promised to repay them if possible.

Julian

An interesting fact. I am pretty sure that Tom Noe worked for Marty Haber years ago.

coinguy1

<< <i>An interesting fact. I am pretty sure that Tom Noe worked for Marty Haber years ago. >>

I believe you are correct Julian, and that Marty Haber has served prison time before, for other money-related offenses.

Barry

I hope Mark and Julian have been vaccinated. It's an epidemic!

VamGuy

188 official complaints registered.

He admitted defrauding more than $1,000,000 from over 100 people over a period of 5 years.

Guilty on only 6 counts of wire fraud and only 1 count of mail fraud.



Justice baby, American style.


That's f'ing pathetic.

Hyperion

is this that AH-collectibles guy or whatever the fuddernucker he calls himself these days ?!?!

mrearlygold

Darn, beat me on this one Michigan

KoinDawg

So he only has to pay restitution to 7 people since only 7 violations prosecuted?

There should be a law that doesn't allow people who have been convicted of wire and mail fraud from participating ever again on ebay. Otherwise, he can just come back after his stay in the big house and continue where he left off.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>is this that AH-collectibles guy or whatever the fuddernucker he calls himself these days ?!?! >>

No. AH = Alan Hager.

Edit. Oh. I just saw your winky-face smiley after that. Missed the sarcasm. Good thing the winky was there- you wouldn't want him to sue you, now, would you?

KoinDawg

NO, AH-collectibles is Alan Hager.

Hyperion

<< <i>

<< <i>is this that AH-collectibles guy or whatever the fuddernucker he calls himself these days ?!?! >>

No. AH = Alan Hager.

Edit. Oh. I just saw your winky-face smiley after that. Missed the sarcasm. Good thing the winky was there- you wouldn't want him to sue you, now, would you? >>




The winky face would be exhibit A in the defense of Hyperion vs. the State of AH or whatever his name is.

Coxe

A million bucks over 100 people is an average of $10K. That means there are some of these people who are likely deeply defrauded. But it begs one to question what the racket was exactly and is this something that anyone with common sense wouldn't get hurt that badly by. There are folks who buy regularly and exclusively from some goniff for some time, never looking to other sellers or questioning the deals they are getting. I guess they sort of deserve it in part.

coinguy1

<< <i>A million bucks over 100 people is an average of $10K. That means there are some of these people who are likely deeply defrauded. But it begs one to question what the racket was exactly and is this something that anyone with common sense wouldn't get hurt that badly by. There are folks who buy regularly and exclusively from some goniff for some time, never looking to other sellers or questioning the deals they are getting. I guess they sort of deserve it in part. >>

Coxe, I think you might have made some unfair assumptions about the victims. Here is what looks to be earlier related information about "the racket": old thread about Marty Haber's Ebay fraud

Coxe

Yeah, I remember the Haber thing. I just can't see people doing business to the tune of five figures, even once, with someone they don't know and through a venue like eBay using wire transfers.

I actually don't really mean these people have it coming to them. But I suppose people have different sensibilities, levels of trust (depending on where they are from and their background), and tolerance/assessment of risk.

TavernTreasures

Why such a light sentence?

Elcontador

Michigan, you seem to be ahead of the curve re the large underbelly of our hobby. Have you heard anything about any other felons / ex-felons in our hobby?

morgansforever

My local B&M rips people off all the time. Example a lady walks in with 10 $20 Saints, all 1928 P's, in the AU range. Common date he tells her, which it is, offers her $4000 for the lot. She takes it and he doubles his money that day. Each of those coins were worth $850 -$900, she should have at the very least, looked them up on Feebay. I can't believe some of society has no clue, knowledge is power. Should I have interjected and told her the real deal?

Michigan

<< <i>My local B&M rips people off all the time. Example a lady walks in with 10 $20 Saints, all 1928 P's, in the AU range. Common date he tells her, which it is, offers her $4000 for the lot. She takes it and he doubles his money that day. Each of those coins were worth $850 -$900, she should have at the very least, looked them up on Feebay. I can't believe some of society has no clue, knowledge is power. Should I have interjected and told her the real deal? >>





Many people have no idea where to look, don't want to take the time to find out and trust what people offer them
is fair. It is not just coins but antiques and all kinds of collectable items.

coinguy1

<< <i>My local B&M rips people off all the time. Example a lady walks in with 10 $20 Saints, all 1928 P's, in the AU range. Common date he tells her, which it is, offers her $4000 for the lot. She takes it and he doubles his money that day. Each of those coins were worth $850 -$900, she should have at the very least, looked them up on Feebay. I can't believe some of society has no clue, knowledge is power. Should I have interjected and told her the real deal? >>

While such purchases by the dealer disgust me, please don't make it sound even worse than it is. Common date Saints in the "AU range" are not worth $850-900. You can buy MS64's in that price range and AU's are worth less than $700.

lloydmincy

188 major complaints registered, and still E-bay didn't do much about it.

And you guys even BOTHER to report the bad E-bayers???

FredWeinberg

I don't know if many of you remember, or know about
the problem I had with Marty Haber in 1990.

While at Numismatics, Ltd., I sold Marty many many
thousands of $20 St. Guadens and Liberty's that I
was buying in Europe. Had a great relationship with
him.

He hit hard times (another great story), but I wasn't
that aware of it - and I sold him an MS-68 Silver type
coin for $60,000 at the June LB show (I think). His
check bounced, I couldn't get anything out of him,
and so for the Oct. LB Show I got a Court Order
"Ex Parte" ("without notice") to SEIZE his coins at
the LB show.

I did that on Thursday, with an LA County Sheriff
serving Haber at his table, in front of the entire
Bourse Floor.

Long story short, by siezing his coins, I got another
coin dealer to give me his check (who I knew and trusted),
and I got 100% of my funds.

Haber was an Attorney / Coin Dealer, who go involved
in the Maimi area, way over his head......

I can't say I'm shocked at what happened to him.

He deserved it 1,000 %, in my opinion.

Fred

mrearlygold

Haber was an Attorney / Coin Dealer, who go involved
in the Maimi area, way over his head......

I can't say I'm shocked at what happened to him.

Fred >>



One can only guess what being in over his head in Miami would mean. In that case then jail might be the safest place for him and he might want to stay there huh? Can we get restitution for the costs of housing, food, protection etc?

FredWeinberg

You've got the right idea,
although I don't think he
has had to worry about
his "problem" in the past
10 years or so -