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Conman might get 20 years in Cheerios theft
Kaelasdad
Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭
Hi everyone, some of you know that I was ripped off by a guy over a Cheerios Sacagawea graded by NGC as MS68. At the time of the fraud, it was a pop 2 coin.
With the assistance of many forum members, the coin was always tracked online, although it was never recovered. Another forum member, who wishes to remain unnamed, helped with trying to set the guy up for the government, but unfortunately, the conman never committed during the set-ups and he was not caught with the coin in hand.
The conman was finally indicted, and decided that he should represent himself in his trial last month. He was convicted on 21 counts in Federal Court.
The following was reported in a local Myrtle Beach paper on September 10:
Myrtle Beach man convicted in fraud case
By Lorena Anderson
After three weeks of federal trial in Columbia in which he acted as his own attorney, Donald Raymond Schaefer, 42, of Myrtle Beach was found guilty of several kinds of fraud, including an Internet-auction scheme that reached across the country.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Kevin McDonald said if Schaefer had only learned his lesson the first time he was indicted, he wouldn't be facing a possible million-dollar fine and 20 years in prison now.
Schaefer was indicted in 2001 for using three Social Security numbers to claim unemployment benefits from the Social Security Employment Security Commission. McDonald said he was able to get $3,900 in benefits that didn't belong to him, but that would likely only have earned him probation.
But while out on bond, Schaefer started an Internet-auction scheme that included advertising valuable coins and art and taking payment for the goods, then not delivering them. He also used other people's identities to set up false accounts on the Internet sites to hide his identity and activities.
Schaefer's convictions include falsely using a Social Security number to obtain unemployment benefits, mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and committing criminal offenses while on bond.
McDonald anticipates Schaefer will be sentenced in the next three months.
The Internet scheme cost victims across the country more than $100,000, McDonald said, and the jury also decided Schaefer must turn over $102,000 he made via these scams. U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins, whose office prosecuted the case, will ask the judge that the money go back to the victims his office has been able to identify.
Many thanks to the forummites who assisted, and remember to be on the lookout for an NGC MS68 Cheerios. I have the cert number and can verify if one does show up.
Russ--Kaelasdad
With the assistance of many forum members, the coin was always tracked online, although it was never recovered. Another forum member, who wishes to remain unnamed, helped with trying to set the guy up for the government, but unfortunately, the conman never committed during the set-ups and he was not caught with the coin in hand.
The conman was finally indicted, and decided that he should represent himself in his trial last month. He was convicted on 21 counts in Federal Court.
The following was reported in a local Myrtle Beach paper on September 10:
Myrtle Beach man convicted in fraud case
By Lorena Anderson
After three weeks of federal trial in Columbia in which he acted as his own attorney, Donald Raymond Schaefer, 42, of Myrtle Beach was found guilty of several kinds of fraud, including an Internet-auction scheme that reached across the country.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Kevin McDonald said if Schaefer had only learned his lesson the first time he was indicted, he wouldn't be facing a possible million-dollar fine and 20 years in prison now.
Schaefer was indicted in 2001 for using three Social Security numbers to claim unemployment benefits from the Social Security Employment Security Commission. McDonald said he was able to get $3,900 in benefits that didn't belong to him, but that would likely only have earned him probation.
But while out on bond, Schaefer started an Internet-auction scheme that included advertising valuable coins and art and taking payment for the goods, then not delivering them. He also used other people's identities to set up false accounts on the Internet sites to hide his identity and activities.
Schaefer's convictions include falsely using a Social Security number to obtain unemployment benefits, mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and committing criminal offenses while on bond.
McDonald anticipates Schaefer will be sentenced in the next three months.
The Internet scheme cost victims across the country more than $100,000, McDonald said, and the jury also decided Schaefer must turn over $102,000 he made via these scams. U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins, whose office prosecuted the case, will ask the judge that the money go back to the victims his office has been able to identify.
Many thanks to the forummites who assisted, and remember to be on the lookout for an NGC MS68 Cheerios. I have the cert number and can verify if one does show up.
Russ--Kaelasdad
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Comments
I will keep an eye out.
-Randy Newman
Thanks!
Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
and on Leap year, he can have dessert. Two servings.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
The problem was his landlord signed for the package. So the guy claimed he never saw the coin. The Post Office refused to pay off since it had been signed for--thus delivered.
The landlord then claimed the package had never been delivered--a fake signature.... until it was proven real, then the landlord claimed they just didnt want to get involved.
So the guy eventually tried to sell the coin online, proving he actually had received the coin, and 2 years later...he is going to prison.
Lesson learned--either get the trade first, or send packages restricted registered (only signable for by the addressee no one else), or do it in person, or through escrow. But 1 out of 1000 deals--not bad odds, but it was my single best coin.
He sounds like the type the would be very difficult to find once he goes underground.
The name is LEE!
<< <i>It is too bad the taxpayers will be paying for his housing and food for the duration of his sentence. Justice might be served if he were mandated to eat Cheerios 3 times per day , 365 days per year for 20 yrs.
and on Leap year, he can have dessert. Two servings. >>
No milk with that either.
Glad to hear this conman got run down.
Best wishes for an ultimate recovery Kaelasdad.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
<< <i>if you're worried about a con-man, why did you try to rip me off? >>
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>if you're worried about a con-man, why did you try to rip me off? >>
Ah your more of a Hot and Steamy breakfast cereal guy
hehe, funny, BS, funny...
...
sorry I'm still so edgy about the scumbag scammer who made the OP. Many forum members may remember our fracas from the beginning days of the 2008/07 rev ASE sales. I was really disappointed in the number of forum members who rushed to his defense, even when presented the evidence from this BST board and his eBay auctions.
JSF did not, could not believe that if you had a sealed, dated non-mint box, you could not get First Strike labeling.
I got every single one of those coins in FS labels. I had 52, and eventually, 10 received MS70 FS, and the remaining 42 received MS69FS.
I should thank JSF, as his ranting made me take them off Ebay, and just submit them myself. They tripled in value.
Before you call someone a scumbag scammer, especially if you have never purchased anything from him, get the facts, know the facts and be able to back up your facts--otherwise, you look like...well, you look like you do, JSF.
Thanks to all those who have purchased from me, and know the facts.
Russ
It would have been great to meet you when you flew to this part of the country in search of smoothies after hearing of a possible score in our area. I know you went home disappointed, but your ambition and attention to the modern market is awesome to watch unfold.
JSF, I do not know you and am sorry you had a bad experience with Russ. In my opinion, he's more trustworthy than anyone I've met online.
Joe
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Just so you know the facts--cause you dont, still.
I searched out ASE's once the error was noticed in April. I purchased hundreds of coins on Ebay based on pictures in the auctions. I did this with Proofs, with non-ws', and ws. When I sell something on Ebay, I use a picture--of the item--a current picture. So when I purchased these coins I assumed the pictures were of the items--they werent. there were so many guys selling stuff with file photos of last years coins--so they all had the back showing a 2007 reverse.
So I bought these coins, based on pictures, and then told people i had them coming in--why wouldnt I think the pictures were of real items? I also told everyone who was interested, that I did not have the coins in hand, that the pictures might have been old, and that anyone who took a chance would get full immediate refunds. What else could i have done? People sell things all the time when they think they have them in transit. The coins came in, they had been stock photos and there were no Proofs or nonws with the 2007 reverse. End of story. get over it. I did. Want to buy some proffs and non ws with 2008 reverses? I have them, I kept them, even though they had the wrong pictures in the auctions. It seemed to me to be bad form to return them, as i had hoped to make a nice profit on them if they had been right.
As for unsearched ASE's, I thought I told you before--just because i can tell a non reverse from a reverse, doesnt mean I graded it. It means I separated it and placed it in a pile--obviously, I did not "search" them afterwards, as I had 20% grade 70 when I sent the pile in PCGS. DUH!
Thanks for the kind words Joe. Its appreciated. I also sold a raw reverse 2007 to a retired gent in California so he could have a complete collection--he didnt have much money, so he asked if he could send me half 1 month and the other half the next month. I said sure, and sent him the coin. Then he sent me the first payment, and a month later he sent me the next payment. he even said he could not believe I sent him the coin first. Yup--scammers do that all the time.
For the most part, i believe in people, and I want to keep the faith. Guys like you make it really hard to keep that up.
When will you quit? Its been 6 months, you never bought anything from me and youre like a little dog grabbing at my ankle. No one has ever been scammed by me, although some have purchased coins that went down in value, and then some bought coins that went up--its that scamming?
Incredible--go away now
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
I wonder about the landlord. Seems he may have been an accomplice. If so, thinking a count of conspiracy here.
Wondercoin