Who knew? "Fats Domino's drummer accused of stealing rare coins....Updated: Drummer won't be tried.
Goldbully
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Got to love the 'Caddie' loveseat.
Fats Domino's drummer accused of stealing and pawning music legend's rare coins, passport
BY RAMON ANTONIO VARGAS | rvargas@theadvocate.com Published Oct 20, 2017 at 3:37 pm | Updated Oct 20, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Fats Domino's former drummer stole hundreds of rare coins and a passport from the 89-year-old musical legend's home in Harvey and pawned them before he was arrested in Massachusetts earlier this month, authorities said.
Ernest "Box" Fontenot, 65, is awaiting extradition to Jefferson Parish after police in Arlington, Massachusetts, caught up with him on Oct. 6.
He faces counts of felony theft and exploitation of the infirm, a stunning turn for a man who received national media attention for helping rescue Domino from his previous home in the Lower 9th Ward after it flooded during Hurricane Katrina.
Fontenot denied wrongdoing during a telephone conversation with a detective, according to investigators. But the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office alleges he left a mound of personal information with an antiques company to which he sold the passport and missing coins, leading to his arrest.
The case dates back to July 14, when Domino's daughter, Adonica, noticed two small boxes on a safe in her father's dressing room at his home. She soon discovered about 500 of her father's silver coins were missing, and she called the Sheriff's Office to report a theft.
She told deputies that Fontenot was one of three people who had been helping care for her dad, who was born Antoine Domino Jr.
Adonica suspected Fontenot was likely the thief because he had been working with her family for only a year, the Sheriff's Office said.
Detective Keith Dowling later determined that Fontenot had sold an antiques firm a total of 220 silver $1 coins on several occasions between April and September of 2016, the Sheriff's Office said. Fontenot also allegedly sold that company a 1986 passport belonging to Domino.
In all, Fontenot pocketed roughly $3,400 for the sales, JPSO spokesman Glen Boyd said Friday.
Ernest "Box" Fontenot, via the
Arlington, Mass. Police Dept.
Dowling eventually called Fontenot, told him he was a suspect in the case, and asked when he could come to the Sheriff's Office for an interview, according to Boyd.
Fontenot claimed he would never steal from Domino, whom he described as a longtime friend. Fontenot said he was living in Massachusetts now but would be back in the New Orleans area in December.
The Sheriff's Office, however, obtained a warrant to arrest Fontenot and notified police in Arlington that a wanted fugitive was living there. Arlington police went to Fontenot's home and arrested him.
It was unclear Friday whether Fontenot had retained an attorney.
Adonica Domino declined comment.
Fontenot began playing drums for Fats Domino about the mid-1980s, when the "Blueberry Hill" singer and pianist was no longer scoring hits but remained a popular live attraction.
The two grew close. Fontenot went to Domino's compound at Caffin Avenue and Marais Street during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.
Fontenot recounted to a CBS News crew how, using a backdoor, he helped move Domino from a single-story home in the compound to a home with two floors. Domino's family was eventually rescued by boat.
Domino later moved to a gated community in Harvey and retired from performing.
Fontenot has several prior arrests, according to the Sheriff's Office. They include allegations of marijuana possession, armed robbery, forcible rape and domestic abuse, Boyd said. It is not clear how those cases were resolved.
The website of the Music Maker Relief Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting impoverished musicians, says Fontenot fell on difficult times after Katrina. The site, which incorrectly asserts that Domino is dead, doesn't elaborate.
Posts on Fontenot's Facebook page also describe him as saying he needs work "desperately."
"Anybody need a drummer?" says one post on Fontenot's page, with a picture showing him and Domino together. "We're hurtin here. Take any gig."
Comments
Thievery is bad enough, but when it is perpetrated by a 'trusted' friend - or family - it is extraordinarily hurtful. I am glad he has been apprehended. I hope the coins (some or all) were recovered. Cheers, RickO
That really sucks.
It's usually someone you know.
Now knowing that Fats collected coins makes me like him even more than before.
And there's little doubt that if he went to Domino or his daughter and said he needed help he probably would have gotten it.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Iconic artist's career spanned more than five decades and saw him sell over 65 million records
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/fats-domino-dead-rock-legend-age-89-new-orleans-tributes-blueberry-hill-music-latest-a8019341.html
A great artist. He will be missed.
Kind regards,
George
R.I.P. Fats.
For those of you newly arrived from Mars, and never heard the iconic "Blueberry Hill":
https://youtube.com/watch?v=bQQCPrwKzdo
The man was unique. A sad day.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
RIP.
Terrible !!!
I wonder if an experienced DA can up the charges against this perp, as the stress may have contributed to his death?
did he "find" coins along w/thrills on B/ berry hiils
Whoever offered $3400 for probably a LOT more in coins is just as guilty.
A legend gone
Drummer accused of stealing coins from Fats Domino won’t be tried
Antoine "Fats" Domino in 2014
Prosecutors won’t pursue charges against a drummer accused of stealing rare coins and a passport from famed New Orleans musician Fats Domino.
The New Orleans Advocate reports that Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick’s office dropped the case against 65-year-old Ernest “Box” Fontenot.
Connick’s office said Monday it didn’t have sufficient evidence.
Adonica Domino reported her father’s silver coins stolen last July, and said she suspected Fontenot. He had been helping care for Domino. The singer and pianist born Antoine Domino Jr. passed away at age 89 seven months ago.
A detective determined Fontenot sold an antiques firm more than 200 $1 silver coins and Domino’s 1986 passport.
Fontenot’s attorney Michael Smith said the items were gifts from Domino, who Fontenot began playing drums for in the 1980s.
https://pagesix.com/2018/05/22/drummer-accused-of-stealing-coins-from-fats-domino-wont-be-tried/
What a shame.....a karma is coming his way
RIP Fats 
Wow with a rap sheet like that It does not surprise.
Best place to buy !
Bronze Associate member
This is a personal and family tragedy with coins in it, not a robbery-murder. He'd been the Fat Man's drummer since the 1980's, rescued him from Katrina, and sounds like he might be a good guy and a major jerk.
He stole rare coins, how is that not a crime? I don't understand your premise.
See > @Goldbully said:
See re-edited post for some nuance
Read it after taking a laxative.
Both. Family tragedy and crime. What a piece of work.
I think that since it was only $3400 it probably wasn't worth persuing in a he said she said case. As the DA said not enough evidence
Karma can be a mother though
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Nothing like nuance and a good colon cleanse.
Terrible that the drummer snared Fat's coins.
They should beat a confession out of him
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Dang, clean colon and drum humor too.
I got to hi hat it out of this forum and get some work done.
R.I.P. Fats Domino one of the few great souls to walk this planet. A talent who created the timeless classic Blueberry Hill, one of those songs that transcends age & culture, very few, if any dislike that song.
all around collector of many fine things
Morally ambiguous coin dealers are grateful for the greatest of all Her graces, mercy.
My first mentor, my first boss, Bob Rose of Renrob, was murdered in his office in the early 90's.
If Purgatory has a pecking order, so be it, But I don't see much major Dante's Inferno for this poor bastard
They should arrest the Pawn Shop dude for paying $15 per silver dollar! I wonder what dollars he owned, condition, etc. The article called them "Rare".
Exactly what I was thinking. The dealer who pays a measly $3,400 for 220 silver dollars is just as much of a scumbag.
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™