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Shop Owner Nabs Fake ASE's
kimber45ACP
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The coin shop owner couldn’t control his trembling hands, so hid them behind the counter. His mouth had grown parched; his stomach, queasy.
The customer seemed as relaxed as a pocket of jingling change. He was the size of a lineman, with a trim goatee and sunglasses atop his head. On Friday, Aug. 30, he had strolled into Golden Isles Coins in Raleigh, N.C., with a bundle of silver dollars and a polished backstory. On a normal day, no one would think he was a professional counterfeiter.
But three area shops had been fleeced that week by a sinewy man hawking fake silver dollars. Now, upon seeing 26 shiny American Eagles spread across his own counter, the Golden Isles shopkeeper thought, that’s the guy.
The owner’s name is Don. The 46-year-old asked that only his middle name be used for fear of retribution. A former factory worker from Buffalo, N.Y., he has run Golden Isles since 1999. He started collecting coins as a 7-year-old, mesmerized by their different designs and histories. Later, factory work dried up, so he moved south and began selling coins in flea markets.
He felt a sense of duty to his profession, so as the customer with the silver dollars began his sales pitch, Don was determined to keep him in the store until police arrived.
The customer’s name was Patrick Chambers. Forty-four years old, he hailed from Mooresville, N.C., north of Charlotte. Between Aug. 27 and Aug. 29, a man matching Chambers’ description sold more than $4,000 worth of counterfeit goods to Raleigh and Cary shops.
“Some of the best jobs I’ve ever seen,” said Dave Beck of Plaza West Jewelry & Loan. “A real professional criminal,” said Steve Baldridge of Steve’s Coins & Collectibles. During the middle of negotiations, someone called the con man’s cellphone pretending to be his ailing mother, Baldridge recalled.
In each case, the fake loot shared a common element: copper. According to national coin experts, copper-to-silver counterfeiting is increasing, originating in China.
“The last two years have become a really big problem [for silver-plated copper],” said Doug Davis, a former Texas police chief and the president of the Numismatic Crime Information Center in Arlington, Texas.
“They’re getting so good they’re actually counterfeiting the certificates and boxes as if they were packaged at the U.S. Mint,” said Davis.
At about noon on Aug. 30, Chambers pulled into the parking lot in a white sedan that was stripped of after-market emblems. Chambers entered Golden Isles and stood near a statuette of a pirate. He started talking with Don.
An associate, aware of the situation, slipped outside to notify an off-duty state trooper, who was leaving the dry cleaners next door. The trooper’s response: Wait 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, Chambers was explaining he had inherited the coins from his father. The counterfeiting was superb, Don thought—professional, not a garage job. The weight was nearly perfect.
Searching for a way to kill time, Don said, “What else you got? I’m a cash buyer.”
Chambers went to his car and returned with a box with Chinese lettering. He pulled out 25 silver bars.
Don announced he was thirsty. He went into the back for a few deep breaths. His associate called the police.
Don returned to the counter and told Chambers, “Let’s put this on paper.” He slowly jotted down figures, scribbling each coin’s year, normally unimportant information. Total sale price: $1,410.
Chambers agreed. Don said, “Now let’s make it official,” and ripped off a ledger sheet with company letterhead. He copied the figures from the scrap paper. He meandered into the back room, returning with $1,000. He peeled off each bill one-by-one.
“I’ll need to go to the bank,” he said.
“I’ll take a check,” said Chambers.
Don disappeared to get a checkbook. When he returned, Chambers’ phone was ringing, and an officer was strolling through the door.
Don told the officer Chambers was attempting to sell counterfeit goods. To prove it, he rubbed one of the coins with a stone, revealing what lay underneath: red copper.
Police ran a background check, saw Chambers had pending charges in Mecklenburg County and arrested him. In addition to 16 drug charges, he faces counterfeiting charges in Wake County. Don said it was the most exciting day of his career.
“Mr. Chambers plays a great game of poker. But he didn’t know we had four aces.”
The coin shop owner couldn’t control his trembling hands, so hid them behind the counter. His mouth had grown parched; his stomach, queasy.
The customer seemed as relaxed as a pocket of jingling change. He was the size of a lineman, with a trim goatee and sunglasses atop his head. On Friday, Aug. 30, he had strolled into Golden Isles Coins in Raleigh, N.C., with a bundle of silver dollars and a polished backstory. On a normal day, no one would think he was a professional counterfeiter.
But three area shops had been fleeced that week by a sinewy man hawking fake silver dollars. Now, upon seeing 26 shiny American Eagles spread across his own counter, the Golden Isles shopkeeper thought, that’s the guy.
The owner’s name is Don. The 46-year-old asked that only his middle name be used for fear of retribution. A former factory worker from Buffalo, N.Y., he has run Golden Isles since 1999. He started collecting coins as a 7-year-old, mesmerized by their different designs and histories. Later, factory work dried up, so he moved south and began selling coins in flea markets.
He felt a sense of duty to his profession, so as the customer with the silver dollars began his sales pitch, Don was determined to keep him in the store until police arrived.
The customer’s name was Patrick Chambers. Forty-four years old, he hailed from Mooresville, N.C., north of Charlotte. Between Aug. 27 and Aug. 29, a man matching Chambers’ description sold more than $4,000 worth of counterfeit goods to Raleigh and Cary shops.
“Some of the best jobs I’ve ever seen,” said Dave Beck of Plaza West Jewelry & Loan. “A real professional criminal,” said Steve Baldridge of Steve’s Coins & Collectibles. During the middle of negotiations, someone called the con man’s cellphone pretending to be his ailing mother, Baldridge recalled.
In each case, the fake loot shared a common element: copper. According to national coin experts, copper-to-silver counterfeiting is increasing, originating in China.
“The last two years have become a really big problem [for silver-plated copper],” said Doug Davis, a former Texas police chief and the president of the Numismatic Crime Information Center in Arlington, Texas.
“They’re getting so good they’re actually counterfeiting the certificates and boxes as if they were packaged at the U.S. Mint,” said Davis.
At about noon on Aug. 30, Chambers pulled into the parking lot in a white sedan that was stripped of after-market emblems. Chambers entered Golden Isles and stood near a statuette of a pirate. He started talking with Don.
An associate, aware of the situation, slipped outside to notify an off-duty state trooper, who was leaving the dry cleaners next door. The trooper’s response: Wait 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, Chambers was explaining he had inherited the coins from his father. The counterfeiting was superb, Don thought—professional, not a garage job. The weight was nearly perfect.
Searching for a way to kill time, Don said, “What else you got? I’m a cash buyer.”
Chambers went to his car and returned with a box with Chinese lettering. He pulled out 25 silver bars.
Don announced he was thirsty. He went into the back for a few deep breaths. His associate called the police.
Don returned to the counter and told Chambers, “Let’s put this on paper.” He slowly jotted down figures, scribbling each coin’s year, normally unimportant information. Total sale price: $1,410.
Chambers agreed. Don said, “Now let’s make it official,” and ripped off a ledger sheet with company letterhead. He copied the figures from the scrap paper. He meandered into the back room, returning with $1,000. He peeled off each bill one-by-one.
“I’ll need to go to the bank,” he said.
“I’ll take a check,” said Chambers.
Don disappeared to get a checkbook. When he returned, Chambers’ phone was ringing, and an officer was strolling through the door.
Don told the officer Chambers was attempting to sell counterfeit goods. To prove it, he rubbed one of the coins with a stone, revealing what lay underneath: red copper.
Police ran a background check, saw Chambers had pending charges in Mecklenburg County and arrested him. In addition to 16 drug charges, he faces counterfeiting charges in Wake County. Don said it was the most exciting day of his career.
“Mr. Chambers plays a great game of poker. But he didn’t know we had four aces.”
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Comments
Lance.
Nice to hear a feel good story for once
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
Hoard the keys.
PCGS Registries
Box of 20
SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>The owner put him self at risk for what will end up a tack on charge to the drug charges netting the crook maybe 18months. Didn't even have to be involved by simply saying he wasn't a buyer and the seller should take them back to where his father bought them as they are fake. >>
I wish more people were like him and would stop enabling crooks.
No, he didn't have to put himself at risk, but then the guy would keep on doing what he was doing. The shopowner had integrity and balls.
I'm glad it worked out like it did.
People that don't do anything and just let people walk out with no issues create bigger criminals and more problems down the road.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Not too far up the road from us
Glad to see him nabbed. The boys that took over my old shop would have surely got hit, they are as dumb as they come
jim
I knew it would happen.
My Ebay Store
<< <i>What's with the trooper not doing his job? >>
My thoughts, too. Wait 10 minutes?!? Jeez...
Great story, though. Love it when the bad guys get caught red handed. That was a great stall job by the dealer!!! It had to be hard to keep his composure throughout the ordeal...
mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345Asesabi Lutho
<< <i>An associate, aware of the situation, slipped outside to notify an off-duty state trooper, who was leaving the dry cleaners next door. The trooper’s response: Wait 10 minutes. >>
<< <i>What's with the trooper not doing his job? >>
I can imagine the trooper wanting to get his piece and/or call in just in case backup was necessary.
I wonder if Chambers was working alone or with others.