Coin dealer convicted of Ebay fraud
Michigan
Posts: 4,942 ✭
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that defendant Martin Eugene Haber has entered a guilty plea to more than $400,000 in mail and wire fraud.
Haber, 58, a former attorney, was the owner and operator of South Dixie Rare Coins, located in Miami. Haber sold collectibles and rare coins through eBay, an Internet auction site. At sentencing, Haber faces a statutory maximum of twenty (20) years for each of the six (6) counts of wire fraud and one (1) count of mail fraud, fines of up to $250,000, and can be ordered to make full restitution to the victims. Sentencing is scheduled for August 22, 2006, before U.S. District Court Judge Donald L. Graham.
This investigation began after the Internet Fraud Complaint Center received more than 50 complaints from buyers who did not receive the merchandise they purchased on eBay from Haber. An additional 50 complaints were reported by unsatisfied buyers with the Consumer Sentinel and local police departments. Over all, more than 188 complaints were made for merchandise purchased between May, 2001, to January, 2005, representing a loss of more than $400,000. Despite two arrests by local law enforcement for these same activities, Haber continued to sell items on the Internet using a variety of names, including those of his family and friends.
The FBI investigation revealed that Haber used eBay accounts belonging to friends, family members, and business associates to sell coins on the Internet. Haber often assumed the identity of an actual eBay account holder to hide his true identity from the potential buyers. Many of the eBay accounts Haber used were suspended due to buyer complaints. Haber continued to sell coins on the Internet until search warrants were executed at his home and place of business.
The evidence linked complaints against Haber with the following eBay accounts: coins and currency, registered to Martin Haber and Tillie T. Arenson Haber , 8610 SW 64th Avenue, Miami, Florida, e-mail address naska2003@aol.com; hgh-for-collectors, registered to Heather G. Haber (Martin Haber’s daughter), 211 1st Avenue #3, New York, New York, e-mail address hghcollectibles@aol.com; southdix, registered to Leslie B. Lundstrom, 12265 South Dixie Highway,
Miami, Florida, e-mail address southdix1@hotmail.com;mailto:Dlst@hiyawatha.com antiquetymes, registered to Mary L.
Garcia, 7701 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, Florida, e-mail address antiquetyme@aol.com; greeneagle47, registered to Diana M. Harper, 19751 Sterling Drive, Cutler Ridge, Florida, e-mail address oldcutler1@aol.com; keybrickell, registered to Christopher Di Pietro, 801 Brickell Key Boulevard #2611, Miami, Florida, e-mail address TTA1948@aol.com; naskamom2004, registered to Toni Arenson (an alias for Tillie T. Arenson Haber), 14115 South Dixie Highway #L, Miami, Florida, e-mail address naskamom@aol.com; and otcollectibles, registered to Sebastien Taggart, 5651 SW 76th Street #4, Miami, Florida, e-mail address otcollectibles@aol.com.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wilfredo Fernandez.
Haber, 58, a former attorney, was the owner and operator of South Dixie Rare Coins, located in Miami. Haber sold collectibles and rare coins through eBay, an Internet auction site. At sentencing, Haber faces a statutory maximum of twenty (20) years for each of the six (6) counts of wire fraud and one (1) count of mail fraud, fines of up to $250,000, and can be ordered to make full restitution to the victims. Sentencing is scheduled for August 22, 2006, before U.S. District Court Judge Donald L. Graham.
This investigation began after the Internet Fraud Complaint Center received more than 50 complaints from buyers who did not receive the merchandise they purchased on eBay from Haber. An additional 50 complaints were reported by unsatisfied buyers with the Consumer Sentinel and local police departments. Over all, more than 188 complaints were made for merchandise purchased between May, 2001, to January, 2005, representing a loss of more than $400,000. Despite two arrests by local law enforcement for these same activities, Haber continued to sell items on the Internet using a variety of names, including those of his family and friends.
The FBI investigation revealed that Haber used eBay accounts belonging to friends, family members, and business associates to sell coins on the Internet. Haber often assumed the identity of an actual eBay account holder to hide his true identity from the potential buyers. Many of the eBay accounts Haber used were suspended due to buyer complaints. Haber continued to sell coins on the Internet until search warrants were executed at his home and place of business.
The evidence linked complaints against Haber with the following eBay accounts: coins and currency, registered to Martin Haber and Tillie T. Arenson Haber , 8610 SW 64th Avenue, Miami, Florida, e-mail address naska2003@aol.com; hgh-for-collectors, registered to Heather G. Haber (Martin Haber’s daughter), 211 1st Avenue #3, New York, New York, e-mail address hghcollectibles@aol.com; southdix, registered to Leslie B. Lundstrom, 12265 South Dixie Highway,
Miami, Florida, e-mail address southdix1@hotmail.com;mailto:Dlst@hiyawatha.com antiquetymes, registered to Mary L.
Garcia, 7701 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, Florida, e-mail address antiquetyme@aol.com; greeneagle47, registered to Diana M. Harper, 19751 Sterling Drive, Cutler Ridge, Florida, e-mail address oldcutler1@aol.com; keybrickell, registered to Christopher Di Pietro, 801 Brickell Key Boulevard #2611, Miami, Florida, e-mail address TTA1948@aol.com; naskamom2004, registered to Toni Arenson (an alias for Tillie T. Arenson Haber), 14115 South Dixie Highway #L, Miami, Florida, e-mail address naskamom@aol.com; and otcollectibles, registered to Sebastien Taggart, 5651 SW 76th Street #4, Miami, Florida, e-mail address otcollectibles@aol.com.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wilfredo Fernandez.
0
Comments
Former attorney! Wow! Nice catch.
But I bet eBay never NARU'd him
My posts viewed
since 8/1/6
<< <i>Sad story. It doesn't surprise me, though.
Any good news to report ? What is even sadder is dragging his entire family and their addresses out here. They didn't deserve that. >>
They did if they gave him the OK to use their ebay address info for questionable purposes. If he's found guilty, then they may be in trouble as well. This is a public forum, and apparently their names and addresses are public knowledge.
<< <i>wow, a dishonest coin dealer in florida, I am so surprised. >>
It IS amazing, huh?
Wotta dummy. A billion pounds of cocaine around him an he messes around with ...coins.
<< <i>
<< <i>Sad story. It doesn't surprise me, though.
Any good news to report ? What is even sadder is dragging his entire family and their addresses out here. They didn't deserve that. >>
They did if they gave him the OK to use their ebay address info for questionable purposes. If he's found guilty, then they may be in trouble as well. This is a public forum, and apparently their names and addresses are public knowledge. >>
I'm glad the guy got busted, but that doesnt mean we ought to burn crosses in his sister's yard.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
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
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
<< <i>We can always count on Michigan to give us all of the "good news." >>
Yeah.......me too.......what is the deal with that?
<< <i>
<< <i>We can always count on Michigan to give us all of the "good news." >>
Yeah.......me too.......what is the deal with that? >>
Come on, guys! First, the FBI and the US Attorney probably have a darned good reason to publicize the ID's and addresses of the other parties involved - there actually may be other victims. We can neither determine the other parties guilt or innocence from the original story or the reposting, but if it had been the intention to keep it private, well I doubt that it would have been in an obviously backslapping govenment press release.
As far as Michigan sharing "good news"... Hell, I love living on happy gas, don't you? Down here in reality I love both great stories (like a #^$@%^ button selling for $15K) along with the realities of life. Why single out Michigan? Why shoot the messenger? At least somebody passes this stuff along - you so rarely hear coin-related news at 11:00 (unless you live in Ohio
If it's your old contact, Mark - I'm sorry. It's always fascinating to hear the back story of people's falls. Lessons to be learned through others' mistakes and all.
Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1
Surprise anyone it was from Florida?
They retire from Ohio.
<< <i>What is it about those South Florida coin dealers? Is it just me or are a disproportionately large number of them total shysters? >>
Not just you......while there are some that are good, there are a lot of them that move there to prey on the elderly and the ones who don't know better.
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
<< <i>The "others" are guilty of at least bad judgment (not a crime), but the 3rd side of the coin ! >>
Unless this guy just used their information. If there are accomplices, that will probably come out, too.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
The Internet Fraud Complaint Center
Jerry
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Miami was said to be "the apex of the con man's triangle," and those of you who are familiar with the history of the great gold cons will recall IGBE -- the International Gold Bullion Exchange in Ft. Lauderdale which sold "gold investments" that they held in their vault-- and when the company went into bankruptcy the gold in the vault was nothing more than blocks of wood spray painted with gold paint.
The area was rich with coin collections being sold by retirees, often for a fraction of their true worth, because retirees needed cash and the coin dealers knew how to move the inventory outside of So Florida.
They would sell at high prices, and buy back at low, low prices.
Oh, the warm memories....
www.AlanBestBuys.com
www.VegasBestBuys.com
<< <i>We can always count on Michigan to give us all of the "good news." >>
The guy was convicted, isn't that good news? Maybe people don't being reminded that there are some less than honest
people out there but why bury your head in the sand and pretend otherwise?
<< <i>But I bet eBay never NARU'd him >>
I'll bet you didn't read the article, did you??
<< <i>
<< <i>Sad story. It doesn't surprise me, though.
Any good news to report ? What is even sadder is dragging his entire family and their addresses out here. They didn't deserve that. >>
They did if they gave him the OK to use their ebay address info for questionable purposes. If he's found guilty, then they may be in trouble as well. This is a public forum, and apparently their names and addresses are public knowledge. >>
I got threatened with a banning for posting the website where majorbigtime is an attorney. Just because it's on the web doesn't mean you can post it here.
<< <i>
<< <i>We can always count on Michigan to give us all of the "good news." >>
The guy was convicted, isn't that good news? Maybe people don't being reminded that there are some less than honest
people out there but why bury your head in the sand and pretend otherwise? >>
Seems like there are also some very unpatriotic lowlifes also. Why don't you report on them!!
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>We can always count on Michigan to give us all of the "good news." >>
The guy was convicted, isn't that good news? Maybe people don't being reminded that there are some less than honest
people out there but why bury your head in the sand and pretend otherwise? >>
Seems like there are also some very unpatriotic lowlifes also. Why don't you report on them!! >>
If it has something to do with numismatics I will.
Thanks Michigan for bring and keeping us up to date on these cases. We sure aren't going to hear about them in Coin World. It might make people aware of the consequences of their actions.
A smart man learns from his mistakes, a smarter man learns from other's mistakes.
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
He was a large buyer of $20's from me while I was at Numismatics, Ltd.
in the 1970's and early 80's.....he got in trouble for selling them to the
wrong people in Miami, and PROMISING them they wouldn't loose money,
whenever they wanted to sell the Twenty's back to him....that cost him
a ton of money, threats on his life, etc.
Some of you dealers might remember Long Beach, early 1991, when I had
a LA Country Sherrif's Dept. Deputy serve Haber AT his table at Long Beach,
and seize coins from him, due to a bounced check he gave me for $60,000
for an MS-68 Seated Dime with Stars that I had at the time.....
I got a pretty good round of applause from the other dealers on the floor
when everyone saw what was happening, and were glad I took strong
measures to get my money back from him.
He was a nice person at one time, but as I've learned in life --
Desperate People Do Desparate Things........
He turned out to be a cheat, a liar, and a piss-poor excuse for a human being.............
Fred
<< <i>I used to know an ex-attorney coin dealer from Florida by the name of Marty Haber, who consistently dealt in among the finest coins on the market. I haven't seen or heard about him in more than a decade, but it sure sounds like it might be the same person. >>
Sounds like this guy used to be quite reputable at one point...sort of make me wonder what happened to him to tempt him down this road. Sad story all the way around...too bad he dragged his family down with him. I suppose if the government attorneys can show compelling evidence that they were somehow cuplable and benefited from the scam, they'll be doing time too....and justly so.
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
People always think so highly of attorneys [and MDs] but they are like anyone else, capable of fraud. I dare say I have known more than my fair shair of crooked MDs and lawyers. I suspect given their 'stature' by a gullible public many abuse their trust. Not surprised.
As for Haber being a Florida coin dealer selling on eBay....can there be a greater stereotype?
Not everything in life is flowers and sunshine....
Because if we whack Michigan, there won't be any more bad coin news.
Unfortunately, we would have to whack Ohio and Florida, too.
Sure, I can go on about cheats in this business. It's virtually unregulated, and the only thing you need to enter the business is money, be it yours or someone else's. I don't know of any other (legal) business that has fewer regulations and has easier entry than numismatics. But everyone who is reading this thread knows - or should know - this, so what's the point of going on and on like he does?
That's my point. I'd really like to see the guy write something positive about numismatics, for a change. After all, if he doesn't see anythng positive in our hobby, why is he here in the first place?
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
<< <i>BlindedByEgo - I wrote my comment because whenever something goes public which is bad news in a numismatic context, just as the sun rises in the east, Michigan will do an OP about it. >>
Not just bad news. Joh....umm, Michigan posts all kinds of numismatic related news stories both here and on RCC. I think he's an asset to both. I've read many interesting stories that he's posted that I just wouldn't have seen anywhere else.
My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.
<< <i>People always think so highly of attorneys >>
My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.
<< <i>The only reason I singled out Michigan as I have is because I have yet so see him post anything positive about numismatics. Ever.
Sure, I can go on about cheats in this business. It's virtually unregulated, and the only thing you need to enter the business is money, be it yours or someone else's. I don't know of any other (legal) business that has fewer regulations and has easier entry than numismatics. But everyone who is reading this thread knows - or should know - this, so what's the point of going on and on like he does?
That's my point. I'd really like to see the guy write something positive about numismatics, for a change. After all, if he doesn't see anythng positive in our hobby, why is he here in the first place? >>
I promise to post a positive story soon.
<< <i>Come on, guys! First, the FBI and the US Attorney probably have a darned good reason to publicize the ID's and addresses of the other parties involved >>
Probably so that they can possibly find other people who may have dealt with those ID's that may have been ripped off.
<< <i>
<< <i>Come on, guys! First, the FBI and the US Attorney probably have a darned good reason to publicize the ID's and addresses of the other parties involved >>
Probably so that they can possibly find other people who may have dealt with those ID's that may have been ripped off. >>
Yep, I agree - hence the rest of my statement in the post "...there actually may be other victims."
I love the idea of piling on more counts and convictions WHILE he's already doing time.
Now, how about some "happy gas" now, Michigan?
Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1
<< <i>Why single out Michigan? Why shoot the messenger? >>
Because the guy seems overly interested in the underbelly of our fine hobby. There is a time and place for that, but by and large people should be promoting the more positive aspects of our common pursuit. Go read what QDB writes in CW every week. He won't avoid talking about scams but by and large the message is overwhelmingly optimistic, as it should be.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.