Maybe I'm out of my gourd, but if my lawyer's name was Corky, it would not inspire much confidence.
"I think the guy must be practicing voodoo or something. Check out his eyes. Rico's crazier than a peach orchard sow." -- Whitey Herzog, Spring Training 1973
I'm willing to bet he sold some 70s packs to a cop who collects cards and everything started snowballing.
You may be right about that, Lee. I recall several years back when I bought a vintage cello pack from a seller who accepted only money orders and I hadn't received it after a couple of weeks, one of his other winners, who turned out to be a police officer, rattled the seller's cage, and my pack arrived (along with his) a couple days later. You never know who is on the other end of a transaction, and some people have better access to legal resources than the average guy.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
This guy has been behind virtually every major counterfeit scheme in the past six years. From Bond Bread, Bazooka, SLU cards, all the minor league fake stuff (Ripken, Marino, Emmitt and a ton of others, Star Co., that bigboydsportscards is still currently selling), he's at the center of it. I'm guessing they found hoards of this stuff in his warehouse. I also know for a fact that they found a ton of the fake operation bullpen autographs in his warehouse so he's even linked to that ring. Guys like Timothy Lorber, bigboyd, and yes, RedZone, who sold all this fake stuff under his Shaqfu username, should be nervous right now. Hooper and Randy Howard are involved in all of this and once they link them to a printer it should be a done deal because they found so much stuff in his warehouse during their search.
<< <i>Hooper said he didn't know of the criminal investigation until police appeared May 22, handcuffed him and executed a search warrant.
Well...duh. I hope the police wouldn't call a suspect and ask his permission to investigate him.
It looks like his hearing is now scheduled for 08/12/2008 before the Magisterial Distrcit Judge. The case has not made it passed the criminal preliminary hearing. >>
Actually many times they do let the suspect know they are being investigated. Sometime if they know they are being investigated then they will either make additional mistakes or will admit to their crimes.
<< <i>This guy has been behind virtually every major counterfeit scheme in the past six years. From Bond Bread, Bazooka, SLU cards, all the minor league fake stuff (Ripken, Marino, Emmitt and a ton of others, Star Co., that bigboydsportscards is still currently selling), he's at the center of it. I'm guessing they found hoards of this stuff in his warehouse. I also know for a fact that they found a ton of the fake operation bullpen autographs in his warehouse so he's even linked to that ring. Guys like Timothy Lorber, bigboyd, and yes, RedZone, who sold all this fake stuff under his Shaqfu username, should be nervous right now. Hooper and Randy Howard are involved in all of this and once they link them to a printer it should be a done deal because they found so much stuff in his warehouse during their search. >>
Haven't heard or read Randy Howard's name with this story. Did he distance himself from Hooper after taking the heat for the counterfeit Bond Bread / Bazooka cards a couple years back?
Operation Bullpen was the largest counterfeit autograph operation the industry has ever had. It's roots were in CA with the Marino brothers and the FBI got them.
I also know from a source that the police are going to be interviewing Randy Howard in relation to this Hooper case, so he's still involved, just quietly involved. I dug up Howard's name in relation to the fake Star. Co. and minor league cards on some e-commerce site that I can't remember the name at this point so he's been involved all along too.
I am one of the plaintiffs in this case against Hooper. If anyone has any first-hand knowledge of his dealings I encourage you to contact the Detective via the phone number listed in the article.
I wish I could tell you that Hooper fought the good fight, and the Sisters let him be. I wish I could tell you that - but prison is no fairy-tale world.
<< <i>I wish I could tell you that Hooper fought the good fight, and the Sisters let him be. I wish I could tell you that - but prison is no fairy-tale world. >>
Maybe he can hook one of the guards up with some counterfeiting and fraud tips, so they'll watch out for him.
<< <i> I'm willing to bet he sold some 70s packs to a cop who collects cards and everything started snowballing.
You may be right about that, Lee. I recall several years back when I bought a vintage cello pack from a seller who accepted only money orders and I hadn't received it after a couple of weeks, one of his other winners, who turned out to be a police officer, rattled the seller's cage, and my pack arrived (along with his) a couple days later. You never know who is on the other end of a transaction, and some people have better access to legal resources than the average guy. >>
I remember a guy selling me something on ebay and then backing out of the deal. I looked up his address about a thousand miles from mine and googled the nearest lake and forrest near his address. Told him a bogus story of how my hunting and fishing buddies would be vacationing half an hour from his home. Next thing you know, he decided to make good on the deal.
<< <i>I am one of the plaintiffs in this case against Hooper. If anyone has any first-hand knowledge of his dealings I encourage you to contact the Detective via the phone number listed in the article. >>
I echo this statement because we need to make sure this guy gets put away. I spoke to Det. Sgt. Earl Bock for about 45 minutes and I'm sending him three different counterfeit articles from SCD that Hooper's at the center of. They really need people to come forward. Hooper's been into everything from counterfeit cards to forged autographs to re-sealed packs, etc. through the years and he needs to be someone's girlfriend in a cell for about 10 years. Mr. Bock said they had an informational meeting where Hooper was supposed to tell his side of the story and instead came in all arrogant and yelling and trying to bully and push them around so now they are really digging deep to nail this guy.
<< <i>I am one of the plaintiffs in this case against Hooper. If anyone has any first-hand knowledge of his dealings I encourage you to contact the Detective via the phone number listed in the article. >>
3 posts and they are all on this thread...welcome and good luck
Now if they can arrest and lock up all therse other scamming PA dirtbags selling boatloads of resealed junk on ebay of late, that would be even better!! Hopefully, there will be some nice LONG prison sentences meted out!
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
I love the picture associated with the story....the 1993 Topps are a classic counterfeited item.
Serioiusly, from reading it, there must be a lot of unknown evidence for it to get to trial. Also, from reading the user comments, he apparently has some buddies he had post positive messages on the board.
Isn't it a pain when you have to open all the packs that have rodent damage? I can't tell you how many 1971 Topps baseball packs I come across that have rat droppings in them.
<<<<< Sports Memorabilia Dealer Will Stand Trial Share This Story?Thursday, 18 September 2008 Allegations of re-sealed wax packs are a big part of the case against a Pennsylvania dealer who will now state his case in front of a jury.
Cumberland County, PA judge Charles Clement ordered 47 year-old Roger Hooper back to court later this fall after hearing arguments against the collectibles dealer at a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Hooper faces five charges including theft by deception and deceptive or fraudulent business practices. Investigators claim he used an acquaintance to sell items for him on eBay which were not as advertised including vintage unopened sports card packs, autographs and individual cards. At least one other collector purchased items later found to be fraudulent, according to authorities. Most of the complaints deal with tampered packs Hooper is accused of selling.
A formal arraignment was set for November 25 with a trial likely to take place early next year.
Cumberland County Detective Sergeant Earl Bock told the court Wednesday that a machine for re-sealing opened packs and wax sealing material were found as part of what he called an "assembly line" operation which involved Hooper allegedly removing the valuable cards and replacing them with others. Hooper claimed the items police saw were packs he was sealing after they'd been damaged and that the machine was used to seal items in plastic so they could be shipped.
The case actually began in August of 2007 when Bock received a complaint from Ned Kerstetter, a collector from Carlisle, PA. Kerstetter told Bock he agreed to sell items through Kerstetter's eBay account during the spring of 2005 in exchange for a commission. After shipping the packages, Kerstetter began receiving complaints from buyers that the delivered merchandise wasn't what was advertised and many wanted their money back. Kerstetter claims he attempted to get Hooper to rectify the issues, but was rebuffed.
Another collector, Virginia resident David Herrell, purchased baseball cards and other memorabilia from Hooper in April of 2006, but quickly found that most of the items were not what he was led to believe. Included in the list of items purchased was a lot of 1971 Topps football wax packs that were rejected by an authentication company.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Sodus told Sports Collectors Daily that Wednesday's preliminary hearing lasted 4 1/2 hours with both Kerstetter and Herrell taking the stand for the Commonwealth and Hooper testifying on his own behalf. Written opinions on the merchandise in question was provided by representatives of James Spence Authentication, Dave & Adam's Card World and Global Authentication.
After hearing the evidence, Clement decided there was sufficient evidence to bound Hooper over for trial. Hooper maintains his innocence and his attorney, Corky Goldstein argued the case should be a civil matter. Hooper is a familiar figure in Cumberland County, having run a live auction business locally for many years.
Sodus said Kerstetter withdrew over $50,000 of his own money from various bank accounts to attempt to satisfy the eBay complaintants after Hooper refused to refund any money, offering Kerstetter memorabilia instead. Several buyers, believing the merchandise belonged to Kerstetter, sent him threatening e-mails and others placed phone calls including one received by Kerstetter's young daughter that contained threats of bodily harm.
Kerstetter ran a computer business on eBay as well and saw his reputation plummet because of the negative feedback left by angry buyers who had purchased items orginating with Hooper.
"He valued his own integrity so much he used his own money to satisfy those customers because it was the right thing to do," Sodus told Sports Collectors Daily.
Sodus said when investigators executed a search warrant on Hooper's property earlier this year, they found a work area packs partially opened and sticks of gum nearby.
"Some of the trading cards that were found inside wax packs looked like they had been kicked down the street for a few blocks," Sodus said. "It would certainly appear as if somebody shuffled the deck." Bock told a local newspaper earlier this summer that Hooper's fingerprints were found on some of the cards located inside unopened packs. Detectives seized numerous sports cards and pieces of memorabilia as evidence.
Since the case became public earlier this summer, Sodus says his office has received numerous complaints from past customers of Hooper's and that the case is still being investigated. While some complaints are in regard to collectible coins, most center around sports memorabilia.
The district attorney's office faces two challenges: to prove a crime was committed and to show evidence to link the defendant to the crime. Should the case go to trial, Sodus says he expects to call expert witnesses from the sports memorabilia industry to the stand.
The case has generated significant interest in the area according to Sodus.
"I've been an attorney for 17 years and have never had a case like this," Sodus said. "At it's core, it's a theft allegation but the factual elements involved are not what we get every day."
Hooper remains free on bond. >>>>>
"Hooper's fingerprints were found on some of the cards located inside unopened packs"
His next court action is a pre-trial conference on 07/30/2009.
Collector of 1976 Topps baseball for some stupid reason. Collector of Pittsburgh Pirates cards for a slightly less stupid reason. My Pirates Collection
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
News from Central PABreaking News, County: Cumberland, Courts, Crime »
Collectibles dealer's son gets chance to avoid criminal record
By Matt Miller May 28, 2009, 9:17AM
The son of a West Shore collectibles dealer is getting a chance to avoid a criminal record for what police said was a $15,000 fraud involving sports cards.
Christopher Hooper, 22, of Lower Allen Twp., has been allowed into Cumberland County's accelerated rehabilitative disposition program and has repaid the alleged victim in the case.
If he completes community service and 6 months probation, the case will be expunged, Senior Assistant District Attorney John Dailey said. Hooper didn't have to enter a plea to the theft by deception charge lodged against him to enter ARD.
He was accused of selling supposedly unopened packs of 1960s cards during a 2007 sports memorabilia show. An expert determined the packs had been tampered with, drastically cutting their value, police said.
Hooper's father, Roger, 48, of Lower Allen Twp., is awaiting trial in county court on similar charges involving an alleged fraud that authorities say was more expansive.
Roger Hooper has denied any wrongdoing.
30
Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
Roger Hooper is still in business. He's now auctioning sports cards, sports memorbilia, coins, celebrity autographs, and militaria out of hotel/motel conference rooms in Delaware and Maryland. He's selling common items along with better quality and rarer items that are sprinkled with fakes and counterfeits being sold as genuine. Most recently, after once again requesting and receiving a continuance of his pre-trial conference and trial on Thursday 1/14/10, he was at the Clarion hotel in Aberdeen, MD two days later selling "vintage" sports items, a variety of militaria, and celebrity autographs. I can't help but wonder if authorities are preventing him from selling in PA or if he's moved his operation to DE and MD for economic reasons - because he's so well known in PA that nobody will come to his auctions.
<< <i> I can't help but wonder if authorities are preventing him from selling in PA or if he's moved his operation to DE and MD for economic reasons - because he's so well known in PA that nobody will come to his auctions. >>
I've heard that he isn't allowed to sell in PA right now. he's got a coin auction in Hagerstown, MD Saturday.
<< <i> I can't help but wonder if authorities are preventing him from selling in PA or if he's moved his operation to DE and MD for economic reasons - because he's so well known in PA that nobody will come to his auctions. >>
I've heard that he isn't allowed to sell in PA right now. he's got a coin auction in Hagerstown, MD Saturday. >>
If I lived up there, I'd go hand out flyers with his criminal history on it.
---------------------- Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989 ----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
Hooper's case has been continued again. His next pre-trial conference is 04/08/2010. The trial is scheduled for 04/19/2010. That is at least the fifth continuance.
Collector of 1976 Topps baseball for some stupid reason. Collector of Pittsburgh Pirates cards for a slightly less stupid reason. My Pirates Collection
Area dealer traded baseball with fake autographs for use of eBay account, friend testifies
September 28, 2010
DAN MILLER,
The Patriot-News
Memorabilia experts are to testify today in Cumberland County Court in the case of a Lower Allen Township auctioneer accused of selling thousands of dollars’ worth of fake sports items, photos and coins.
Roger Lee Hooper, 49, allegedly sold the items to people nationwide in 2005 through an eBay account that his friend Ned Kerstetter of Carlisle allowed him to use.
Hooper is on trial in Cumberland County Court before Judge Wesley Oler Jr. on charges of deceptive business practices, theft by deception and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
Kerstetter testified Monday and Tuesday.
He said Hooper gave him a baseball allegedly autographed by members of the 500-home run club in return for using the account. The autographs turned out to be fake, Kerstetter said.
When buyers started to complain, Hooper at first agreed to refund money to people who asked for it but stopped doing so after paying out about $15,000, Kerstetter testified. Complaints about fake items kept coming in from angry buyers all over the country, Kerstetter said.
Kerstetter said he started refunding money to buyers on his own, spending $58,000 of his money, tapping savings and checking accounts and cashing in retirement accounts to do so.
Kerstetter said he tried to get his money back by suing Hooper, and a Carlisle law firm he hired referred the case to the county district attorney as a criminal matter in 2007.
Hooper was arrested and charged in May 2008 after county investigators got a second complaint alleging fraud against Hooper from David Herrell of Harrisonburg, Va.
On Tuesday, Hooper’s lawyer, George Matangos, asked Kerstetter how he knew the items the buyers were sending back for refunds were the same memorabilia they had received from Hooper.
Kerstetter answered that he didn’t know for certain that the items were the same but considered that unlikely since so many similar complaints were coming from different buyers.
Herrell told the county in 2008 he bought about $5,000 of fake autographed items and bogus sports cards packs from Hooper during an auction in Dillsburg in 2006.
Herrell testified Tuesday that he sent some of the items he bought from Hooper in 2006 to a sports memorabilia dealer in New York who was going to resell the items for him.
Instead, the dealer told Herrell the card packs had been opened and the best cards taken out before the packs were resealed and sold to Herrell.
Herrell testified he also learned the autographs on a photo of the Apollo 8 astronauts were fake.
30
Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
Comments
The bulk of it was interviewing Hooper and letting him defend himself (more video was on autographs than unopened material)
You may be right about that, Lee. I recall several years back when I bought a vintage cello pack from a seller who accepted only money orders and I hadn't received it after a couple of weeks, one of his other winners, who turned out to be a police officer, rattled the seller's cage, and my pack arrived (along with his) a couple days later. You never know who is on the other end of a transaction, and some people have better access to legal resources than the average guy.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Collect Auctions
Steve
<< <i>Hooper said he didn't know of the criminal investigation until police appeared May 22, handcuffed him and executed a search warrant.
Well...duh. I hope the police wouldn't call a suspect and ask his permission to investigate him.
It looks like his hearing is now scheduled for 08/12/2008 before the Magisterial Distrcit Judge. The case has not made it passed the criminal preliminary hearing. >>
Actually many times they do let the suspect know they are being investigated. Sometime if they know they are being investigated then they will either make additional mistakes or will admit to their crimes.
<< <i>This guy has been behind virtually every major counterfeit scheme in the past six years. From Bond Bread, Bazooka, SLU cards, all the minor league fake stuff (Ripken, Marino, Emmitt and a ton of others, Star Co., that bigboydsportscards is still currently selling), he's at the center of it. I'm guessing they found hoards of this stuff in his warehouse. I also know for a fact that they found a ton of the fake operation bullpen autographs in his warehouse so he's even linked to that ring. Guys like Timothy Lorber, bigboyd, and yes, RedZone, who sold all this fake stuff under his Shaqfu username, should be nervous right now. Hooper and Randy Howard are involved in all of this and once they link them to a printer it should be a done deal because they found so much stuff in his warehouse during their search. >>
Haven't heard or read Randy Howard's name with this story. Did he distance himself from Hooper after taking the heat for the counterfeit Bond Bread / Bazooka cards a couple years back?
What is the "fake operation bullpen autographs"?
RB
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
I also know from a source that the police are going to be interviewing Randy Howard in relation to this Hooper case, so he's still involved, just quietly involved. I dug up Howard's name in relation to the fake Star. Co. and minor league cards on some e-commerce site that I can't remember the name at this point so he's been involved all along too.
Collect Auctions
<< <i>I wish I could tell you that Hooper fought the good fight, and the Sisters let him be. I wish I could tell you that - but prison is no fairy-tale world. >>
Maybe he can hook one of the guards up with some counterfeiting and fraud tips, so they'll watch out for him.
<< <i> I'm willing to bet he sold some 70s packs to a cop who collects cards and everything started snowballing.
You may be right about that, Lee. I recall several years back when I bought a vintage cello pack from a seller who accepted only money orders and I hadn't received it after a couple of weeks, one of his other winners, who turned out to be a police officer, rattled the seller's cage, and my pack arrived (along with his) a couple days later. You never know who is on the other end of a transaction, and some people have better access to legal resources than the average guy. >>
I remember a guy selling me something on ebay and then backing out of the deal. I looked up his address about a thousand miles from mine and googled the nearest lake and forrest near his address. Told him a bogus story of how my hunting and fishing buddies would
be vacationing half an hour from his home. Next thing you know, he decided to make good on the deal.
<< <i>I am one of the plaintiffs in this case against Hooper. If anyone has any first-hand knowledge of his dealings I encourage you to contact the Detective via the phone number listed in the article. >>
I echo this statement because we need to make sure this guy gets put away. I spoke to Det. Sgt. Earl Bock for about 45 minutes and I'm sending him three different counterfeit articles from SCD that Hooper's at the center of. They really need people to come forward. Hooper's been into everything from counterfeit cards to forged autographs to re-sealed packs, etc. through the years and he needs to be someone's girlfriend in a cell for about 10 years. Mr. Bock said they had an informational meeting where Hooper was supposed to tell his side of the story and instead came in all arrogant and yelling and trying to bully and push them around so now they are really digging deep to nail this guy.
Collect Auctions
<< <i>I am one of the plaintiffs in this case against Hooper. If anyone has any first-hand knowledge of his dealings I encourage you to contact the Detective via the phone number listed in the article. >>
3 posts and they are all on this thread...welcome and good luck
<< <i>
3 posts and they are all on this thread >>
What difference does that make? Someone copy & pasted a thread I made somewhere else so I thought I'd follow it up.
Text
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Serioiusly, from reading it, there must be a lot of unknown evidence for it to get to trial. Also, from reading the user comments, he apparently has some buddies he had post positive messages on the board.
<< <i>Looks like Hooper will be going to trial.
Text >>
"Thousands of loose cards and piles of stale chewing gum were in plain view..."
My Sandberg topps basic set
My Sandberg Topps Master set
Another story on the case.
Share This Story?Thursday, 18 September 2008
Allegations of re-sealed wax packs are a big part of the case against a Pennsylvania dealer who will now state his case in front of a jury.
Cumberland County, PA judge Charles Clement ordered 47 year-old Roger Hooper back to court later this fall after hearing arguments against the collectibles dealer at a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Hooper faces five charges including theft by deception and deceptive or fraudulent business practices. Investigators claim he used an acquaintance to sell items for him on eBay which were not as advertised including vintage unopened sports card packs, autographs and individual cards. At least one other collector purchased items later found to be fraudulent, according to authorities. Most of the complaints deal with tampered packs Hooper is accused of selling.
A formal arraignment was set for November 25 with a trial likely to take place early next year.
Cumberland County Detective Sergeant Earl Bock told the court Wednesday that a machine for re-sealing opened packs and wax sealing material were found as part of what he called an "assembly line" operation which involved Hooper allegedly removing the valuable cards and replacing them with others. Hooper claimed the items police saw were packs he was sealing after they'd been damaged and that the machine was used to seal items in plastic so they could be shipped.
The case actually began in August of 2007 when Bock received a complaint from Ned Kerstetter, a collector from Carlisle, PA. Kerstetter told Bock he agreed to sell items through Kerstetter's eBay account during the spring of 2005 in exchange for a commission. After shipping the packages, Kerstetter began receiving complaints from buyers that the delivered merchandise wasn't what was advertised and many wanted their money back. Kerstetter claims he attempted to get Hooper to rectify the issues, but was rebuffed.
Another collector, Virginia resident David Herrell, purchased baseball cards and other memorabilia from Hooper in April of 2006, but quickly found that most of the items were not what he was led to believe. Included in the list of items purchased was a lot of 1971 Topps football wax packs that were rejected by an authentication company.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Sodus told Sports Collectors Daily that Wednesday's preliminary hearing lasted 4 1/2 hours with both Kerstetter and Herrell taking the stand for the Commonwealth and Hooper testifying on his own behalf. Written opinions on the merchandise in question was provided by representatives of James Spence Authentication, Dave & Adam's Card World and Global Authentication.
After hearing the evidence, Clement decided there was sufficient evidence to bound Hooper over for trial. Hooper maintains his innocence and his attorney, Corky Goldstein argued the case should be a civil matter. Hooper is a familiar figure in Cumberland County, having run a live auction business locally for many years.
Sodus said Kerstetter withdrew over $50,000 of his own money from various bank accounts to attempt to satisfy the eBay complaintants after Hooper refused to refund any money, offering Kerstetter memorabilia instead. Several buyers, believing the merchandise belonged to Kerstetter, sent him threatening e-mails and others placed phone calls including one received by Kerstetter's young daughter that contained threats of bodily harm.
Kerstetter ran a computer business on eBay as well and saw his reputation plummet because of the negative feedback left by angry buyers who had purchased items orginating with Hooper.
"He valued his own integrity so much he used his own money to satisfy those customers because it was the right thing to do," Sodus told Sports Collectors Daily.
Sodus said when investigators executed a search warrant on Hooper's property earlier this year, they found a work area packs partially opened and sticks of gum nearby.
"Some of the trading cards that were found inside wax packs looked like they had been kicked down the street for a few blocks," Sodus said. "It would certainly appear as if somebody shuffled the deck." Bock told a local newspaper earlier this summer that Hooper's fingerprints were found on some of the cards located inside unopened packs. Detectives seized numerous sports cards and pieces of memorabilia as evidence.
Since the case became public earlier this summer, Sodus says his office has received numerous complaints from past customers of Hooper's and that the case is still being investigated. While some complaints are in regard to collectible coins, most center around sports memorabilia.
The district attorney's office faces two challenges: to prove a crime was committed and to show evidence to link the defendant to the crime. Should the case go to trial, Sodus says he expects to call expert witnesses from the sports memorabilia industry to the stand.
The case has generated significant interest in the area according to Sodus.
"I've been an attorney for 17 years and have never had a case like this," Sodus said. "At it's core, it's a theft allegation but the factual elements involved are not what we get every day."
Hooper remains free on bond. >>>>>
"Hooper's fingerprints were found on some of the cards located inside unopened packs"
"Hooper maintains his innocence"
References:
Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
According to the Court records, Hooper was supposed to start trial June 22nd,2009. That was two weeks ago. Hope this helps.
Collector of Pittsburgh Pirates cards for a slightly less stupid reason.
My Pirates Collection
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
News from Central PABreaking News, County: Cumberland, Courts, Crime »
Collectibles dealer's son gets chance to avoid criminal record
By Matt Miller
May 28, 2009, 9:17AM
The son of a West Shore collectibles dealer is getting a chance to avoid a criminal record for what police said was a $15,000 fraud involving sports cards.
Christopher Hooper, 22, of Lower Allen Twp., has been allowed into Cumberland County's accelerated rehabilitative disposition program and has repaid the alleged victim in the case.
If he completes community service and 6 months probation, the case will be expunged, Senior Assistant District Attorney John Dailey said. Hooper didn't have to enter a plea to the theft by deception charge lodged against him to enter ARD.
He was accused of selling supposedly unopened packs of 1960s cards during a 2007 sports memorabilia show. An expert determined the packs had been tampered with, drastically cutting their value, police said.
Hooper's father, Roger, 48, of Lower Allen Twp., is awaiting trial in county court on similar charges involving an alleged fraud that authorities say was more expansive.
Roger Hooper has denied any wrongdoing.
30
DOJ Release
Jacksonville Paper Article from '07
<< <i> I can't help but wonder if authorities are preventing him from selling in PA or if he's moved his operation to DE and MD for economic reasons - because he's so well known in PA that nobody will come to his auctions. >>
I've heard that he isn't allowed to sell in PA right now. he's got a coin auction in Hagerstown, MD Saturday.
<< <i>
<< <i> I can't help but wonder if authorities are preventing him from selling in PA or if he's moved his operation to DE and MD for economic reasons - because he's so well known in PA that nobody will come to his auctions. >>
I've heard that he isn't allowed to sell in PA right now. he's got a coin auction in Hagerstown, MD Saturday. >>
If I lived up there, I'd go hand out flyers with his criminal history on it.
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
Collector of Pittsburgh Pirates cards for a slightly less stupid reason.
My Pirates Collection
Currently collecting 1934 Butterfinger, 1969 Nabisco, 1991 Topps Desert Shield (in PSA 9 or 10), and 1990 Donruss Learning Series (in PSA 10).
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/09/area_dealer_traded_baseball_wi.html
Area dealer traded baseball with fake autographs for use of eBay account, friend testifies
September 28, 2010
DAN MILLER,
The Patriot-News
Memorabilia experts are to testify today in Cumberland County Court in the case of a Lower Allen Township auctioneer accused of selling thousands of dollars’ worth of fake sports items, photos and coins.
Roger Lee Hooper, 49, allegedly sold the items to people nationwide in 2005 through an eBay account that his friend Ned Kerstetter of Carlisle allowed him to use.
Hooper is on trial in Cumberland County Court before Judge Wesley Oler Jr. on charges of deceptive business practices, theft by deception and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
Kerstetter testified Monday and Tuesday.
He said Hooper gave him a baseball allegedly autographed by members of the 500-home run club in return for using the account. The autographs turned out to be fake, Kerstetter said.
When buyers started to complain, Hooper at first agreed to refund money to people who asked for it but stopped doing so after paying out about $15,000, Kerstetter testified. Complaints about fake items kept coming in from angry buyers all over the country, Kerstetter said.
Kerstetter said he started refunding money to buyers on his own, spending $58,000 of his money, tapping savings and checking accounts and cashing in retirement accounts to do so.
Kerstetter said he tried to get his money back by suing Hooper, and a Carlisle law firm he hired referred the case to the county district attorney as a criminal matter in 2007.
Hooper was arrested and charged in May 2008 after county investigators got a second complaint alleging fraud against Hooper from David Herrell of Harrisonburg, Va.
On Tuesday, Hooper’s lawyer, George Matangos, asked Kerstetter how he knew the items the buyers were sending back for refunds were the same memorabilia they had received from Hooper.
Kerstetter answered that he didn’t know for certain that the items were the same but considered that unlikely since so many similar complaints were coming from different buyers.
Herrell told the county in 2008 he bought about $5,000 of fake autographed items and bogus sports cards packs from Hooper during an auction in Dillsburg in 2006.
Herrell testified Tuesday that he sent some of the items he bought from Hooper in 2006 to a sports memorabilia dealer in New York who was going to resell the items for him.
Instead, the dealer told Herrell the card packs had been opened and the best cards taken out before the packs were resealed and sold to Herrell.
Herrell testified he also learned the autographs on a photo of the Apollo 8 astronauts were fake.
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