<< <i>Great story and glad it worked out for Bozarth. They are good people and have always been excellent to deal with. >>
+1
Vic & Sherri Bozarth are truly two of the good guys.
And kudos to all the other dealers and detectives mentioned in the story for their willingness to assist in catching this crook.
Dave Wnuck. Redbook contributor; long time PNG Member; listed on the PCGS Board of Experts. PM me with your email address to receive my e-newsletter, and visit DaveWcoins.com Find me on eBay at davewcoins
"Coin Thief – Mark White Miller of Montrose, Colo."
Dave Wnuck. Redbook contributor; long time PNG Member; listed on the PCGS Board of Experts. PM me with your email address to receive my e-newsletter, and visit DaveWcoins.com Find me on eBay at davewcoins
If ANYONE sees this guy at a show for the next 5 Years, please call the Maryland States Attorney Josh Felsen @ 443-984-6231 He will be in violation of his probation....which is another story, and will subsequently be arrested and most likely given jail time.
Think about it, the guy stole at least $16,000 worth of coins (most likely $50-100,000). Pays restitution of $16,000, gets 5 years probation and a felony theft charge on his record. I'm not saying it's a good deal, but at the end of the day it's not much more than a slap on the wrist.
The good news here is that with all the dealer cooperation, we stopped a thief and had him put in his place
Too bad he got a suspended sentence...must have been a plea bargain (pay restitution, avoid jail). Great work by the detectives and the dealer network. Cheers, RickO
<< <i>Scary stuff! Sounds like he was let off way too easy. He may not steal something at a coin show again, but he will steal something again somewhere. >>
Good to hear that they got their money back, and it's very nice to see the honesty displayed by the various dealers involved, in returning the coins to Bozarth and helping him catch the thief. It is a shame that the guy didn't get some jail time, though, but at least he had to make good at some level.
Vic and Sherri are two of the best people in the coin industry. I do a lot of business with them because they are fair and honest. I hate seeing when bad stuff happens to good people but am glad to know that, aside from all the time and agony spent on this case, they were finally made whole. Now this thief has a record, his photo is circulated, and it will be very difficult for him to get away with stealing coins at a show (but the B&Ms will now need to be aware of this guy).
Coin thefts (including thieves writing bad checks) is one of a dealer's worst nightmares (aside from being personally robbed) and can really sour the enjoyment we get from being a coin dealer. Several years ago I caught a small time thief stealing coins at a show and had him prosecuted. He also plead guilty, got a fine and probation. But he did not have an order to stay away from coin shows and eventually showed up at a couple other coin shows I attended, but when I was made aware of his presence at the show, I advised security that he was a convicted coin thief and he was removed from the show before he could rip off anyone else.
What is most frustrating is that some dealers choose to take the easy way out when they catch a coin thief and simply take payment for the stolen coins rather than prosecute them. If more coin thieves were prosecuted from the beginning, even if they don't serve any time at first, at least they would have a record, and if they continued with their wicked ways, would eventually be put away. If they are not prosecuted, they have no deterrent and will most assuredly continue stealing coins.
Big kudos to Vic and Sherri for their hard work and persistence, and for publicizing their experience so we can all be on the lookout for this thief, and be reminded to always be diligent.
Comments
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
<< <i>Great story and glad it worked out for Bozarth. They are good people and have always been excellent to deal with. >>
+1
Vic & Sherri Bozarth are truly two of the good guys.
And kudos to all the other dealers and detectives mentioned in the story for their willingness to assist in catching this crook.
Includes pic of the culprit
The caption reads:
"Coin Thief – Mark White Miller of Montrose, Colo."
Think about it, the guy stole at least $16,000 worth of coins (most likely $50-100,000). Pays restitution of $16,000, gets 5 years probation and a felony theft charge on his record. I'm not saying it's a good deal, but at the end of the day it's not much more than a slap on the wrist.
The good news here is that with all the dealer cooperation, we stopped a thief and had him put in his place
GREAT WORK BY ALL
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
<< <i>Scary stuff! Sounds like he was let off way too easy. He may not steal something at a coin show again, but he will steal something again somewhere.
Sounds like an Al Bundy wannabee.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Coin thefts (including thieves writing bad checks) is one of a dealer's worst nightmares (aside from being personally robbed) and can really sour the enjoyment we get from being a coin dealer. Several years ago I caught a small time thief stealing coins at a show and had him prosecuted. He also plead guilty, got a fine and probation. But he did not have an order to stay away from coin shows and eventually showed up at a couple other coin shows I attended, but when I was made aware of his presence at the show, I advised security that he was a convicted coin thief and he was removed from the show before he could rip off anyone else.
What is most frustrating is that some dealers choose to take the easy way out when they catch a coin thief and simply take payment for the stolen coins rather than prosecute them. If more coin thieves were prosecuted from the beginning, even if they don't serve any time at first, at least they would have a record, and if they continued with their wicked ways, would eventually be put away. If they are not prosecuted, they have no deterrent and will most assuredly continue stealing coins.
Big kudos to Vic and Sherri for their hard work and persistence, and for publicizing their experience so we can all be on the lookout for this thief, and be reminded to always be diligent.
The Penny Lady®
CONVICTED AND PROSECUTED COIN THIEF
MARK WHITE MILLER.
YOU'LL BE NEXT IF YOU ATTEMPT TO STEAL!
WE ARE WATCHING AND ARE READY TO PROSECUTE!
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.