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Mailman convicted on theft of rare coins
Michigan
Posts: 4,942 ✭
WILMINGTON -- A federal jury has convicted a city postal carrier for stealing a series of rare coins from the mail and transporting them across state lines.
The verdict against Ernest Wilson came after about two hours of deliberation by jurors including a lunch break.
Wilson, 38, of New Castle now faces up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine for each count when he is sentenced in October.
Wilson showed little emotion, only dropping his head slightly after the second guilty verdict was read.
He remains free on bail.
Wilson was accused of stealing at least eight coins from the mail -- including a 1907 Indian Head gold coin with a rolled edge worth $275,000 – and then attempting to sell them to a Pennsylvania coin dealer.
Wilson’s attorney Michael Malloy argued there was no proof his client took the coins from the mail and suggested the coin dealer kept “the big coin.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hall urged the jury to use their common sense.
The verdict against Ernest Wilson came after about two hours of deliberation by jurors including a lunch break.
Wilson, 38, of New Castle now faces up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine for each count when he is sentenced in October.
Wilson showed little emotion, only dropping his head slightly after the second guilty verdict was read.
He remains free on bail.
Wilson was accused of stealing at least eight coins from the mail -- including a 1907 Indian Head gold coin with a rolled edge worth $275,000 – and then attempting to sell them to a Pennsylvania coin dealer.
Wilson’s attorney Michael Malloy argued there was no proof his client took the coins from the mail and suggested the coin dealer kept “the big coin.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hall urged the jury to use their common sense.
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Comments
<< <i>I'd like to know what the "big coin" was... >>
It was a high grade (MS67?) Rolled Edge 1907 $10 Indian.
<< <i>Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hall urged the jury to use their common sense. >>
Moon lighting?
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Free on bail ?? Whens the next flight to Mexico ??
<< <i>Mark, I must have read that wrong...I interpreted it as meaning the dealer got away with another unknown coin because the 1907 was obviously recovered. (As in the mailman saying, "I'm not the only thief here"). >>
If it's the story/incident I'm thinking of, I believe that the thief (or an accomplice) tried to sell the 1907 $10 in a shop, the shop (directly or indirectly) alerted the true owner of the coin, some type of sting operation was set up, but that the seller took off with the coin and that it wasn't found, at least at that time. I might be mistaken however.
<< <i>
<< <i>Mark, I must have read that wrong...I interpreted it as meaning the dealer got away with another unknown coin because the 1907 was obviously recovered. (As in the mailman saying, "I'm not the only thief here"). >>
If it's the story/incident I'm thinking of, I believe that the thief (or an accomplice) tried to sell the 1907 $10 in a shop, the shop (directly or indirectly) alerted the true owner of the coin, some type of sting operation was set up, but that the seller took off with the coin and that it wasn't found, at least at that time. I might be mistaken however. >>
If I remember it correctly he ditched the coin in some bushes or in a pile of junk or something like that. I believe the coin was "raw"
at the time he ditched it so if it is ever found it won't be in great condition.
The name is LEE!
I used to work at a mail sorting facility for UPS many moons ago. There were so many packages to sort you could have marked one "1913 Nickel Inside" in large pink letters and we would not have noticed.
How did he know which boxes to steal? OK, he was a carrier but still how did he know? Unless he was tipped?
How did he know to steal the package with the $275k coin versus the 1999 Proof set?
He probably got at least somewhat lucky. However, over time, he might have become familiar with the nature of the recipient's business.
roadrunner
<< <i>Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hall urged the jury to use their common sense. >>
Was he wearing a Hawaiian shirt?
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<< <i>
<< <i>Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hall urged the jury to use their common sense. >>
Moon lighting?
<< <i>Wilson was accused of stealing at least eight coins from the mail -- including a 1907 Indian Head gold coin with a rolled edge worth $275,000 >>
I wonder how the sender was able to obtain Postal Insurance for the $275,000 Indian Gold Coin? I would get a round trip airplane ticket and bring it to the buyer myself.
<< <i>If I remember it correctly he ditched the coin in some bushes or in a pile of junk or something like that. I believe the coin was "raw"
at the time he ditched it so if it is ever found it won't be in great condition. >>
I can hear Lord M. firing up that detector as we speak.
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From the rumors told at some of the shows, the dealer who sent the coin is also a well known dealer in southern california. Also routinely dealing in high dollar coins. Given the easy access to information these days, it doesn't surprise me that this happened.
How does one issure a $275,000 coin being mailed. Loyds of London would be my first guess. At least that is what some of the major auction companies use.
<< <i>Wait a minute!!
I used to work at a mail sorting facility for UPS many moons ago. There were so many packages to sort you could have marked one "1913 Nickel Inside" in large pink letters and we would not have noticed.
How did he know which boxes to steal? OK, he was a carrier but still how did he know? Unless he was tipped?
How did he know to steal the package with the $275k coin versus the 1999 Proof set? >>
This is an easy one. He has Xray vision. Or maybe some people put "MONEY INSIDE, PLEASE DON'T STEAL" on the package. The package was actually made up of clear tape.
This is why I don't have coin magazines delivered to my house.
Think of all the coins criss-crossing the nation at this very moment. Coins from eBay, private sales, approvals, web sales, etc. How would someone know which package to intercept? Even if the thief could narrow it down to a major dealer how would they know it was not a Bowers book or a modern proof set vs. a Proof $20 Lib?
Luck? Perhaps but there are too many 'lucky' theives out there.
<< <i>Why bother with all the risk in the mail and when you can just walk into Dwight Manley's garage?
roadrunner >>
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
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
<< <i>
<< <i>Mark, I must have read that wrong...I interpreted it as meaning the dealer got away with another unknown coin because the 1907 was obviously recovered. (As in the mailman saying, "I'm not the only thief here"). >>
If it's the story/incident I'm thinking of, I believe that the thief (or an accomplice) tried to sell the 1907 $10 in a shop, the shop (directly or indirectly) alerted the true owner of the coin, some type of sting operation was set up, but that the seller took off with the coin and that it wasn't found, at least at that time. I might be mistaken however. >>
If this is the same coin I'm thinking of, this all took place at Booth's Corner, a local weekend auction/ flea market type of place. The dealerwas approached with the coin, figured it was stolen, offered the guy something like $10,000, but told him he would need an hour to get the cash and could he stop back. Dealer calls police. Thief comes back in an hour but something tips him off, maybe the cop saying "stop thief" the guy runs and throws the coin in a wooded field thinking; no evidence, no crime.
Don't know if they ever recovered the coin but it almost turned me into a MD forum person.
Joe
<< <i>Wilson was accused of stealing at least eight coins from the mail >>
Notice the words "at least". That may explain how he "knew" which package to steal. He could quite possibly stolen much more and he "got lucky" on that 1907 eagle. They may not be able to get him on everything he stole, but they were definitely able to prove those 8 coins and so that was what they charged him on.
<< <i>Registered mail is the safest way to ship coins via common carrier. I have sent many six-figured coins via registered mail. Private insurance is available for registered packages. I believe that the Hope diamond was sent via registered mail. >>
Hope Diamond was indeed sent Registered.
<< <i>
I talked to an USPO guy at a recent show (not part of the USPO booth, just a fellow collector). He claimed that he could tell me many stories about such things, although he did not go into specifics. He said he did not trust certified mail as highly as many others do. >>
Certified or Registered? Regardless, even if it's not 100% perfect, for shipping, it's by far the safest shy of armored truck.