Someone mentioned North Shore Sports in another thread. I wasn't in the hobby when they were doing auctions, so I'm not really sure what happened with them.
I found an article which talked about Steve Ryan (real name Steve Levine) being charged with fraud.
Does anyone know how he was caught? Are there any other examples of high profile people who were busted for bogus game used items?
Here's the article I found...
Former dealer faces up to eight years imprisonment
3/23/2000 10:00:45 AM
Steve Ryan, formerly the proprietor of North Shore Sports in Northbrook, Ill., entered a guilty plea today at the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. In doing so, Ryan acknowledged that he defrauded collectors of autographed and game-worn sports memorabilia and that he filed a false income tax return for the 1994 tax year. On October 26, 1999, the FBI submitted an affidavit to obtain an arrest warrant for Ryan, whose real name is Steve Levine. He was targeted for violations of mail and wire fraud laws related to the distribution of fraudulent sports memorabilia. According to court documents, Ryan, along with other sports memorabilia dealers, started selling fraudulently autographed sports memorabilia "in or about 1994 continuing until on or about October 26, 1999." Ryan also advertised for "game worn" or "game used" jerseys and other items such as shoes. These items were never worn or used by the athletes who purportedly wore them. But Ryan knowingly sold these items in large quantities. Ryan also would alter these items to make them appear as though they had been worn. Given the counts to which Ryan has pled guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
I found an article which talked about Steve Ryan (real name Steve Levine) being charged with fraud.
Does anyone know how he was caught? Are there any other examples of high profile people who were busted for bogus game used items?
Here's the article I found...
Former dealer faces up to eight years imprisonment
3/23/2000 10:00:45 AM
Steve Ryan, formerly the proprietor of North Shore Sports in Northbrook, Ill., entered a guilty plea today at the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. In doing so, Ryan acknowledged that he defrauded collectors of autographed and game-worn sports memorabilia and that he filed a false income tax return for the 1994 tax year. On October 26, 1999, the FBI submitted an affidavit to obtain an arrest warrant for Ryan, whose real name is Steve Levine. He was targeted for violations of mail and wire fraud laws related to the distribution of fraudulent sports memorabilia. According to court documents, Ryan, along with other sports memorabilia dealers, started selling fraudulently autographed sports memorabilia "in or about 1994 continuing until on or about October 26, 1999." Ryan also advertised for "game worn" or "game used" jerseys and other items such as shoes. These items were never worn or used by the athletes who purportedly wore them. But Ryan knowingly sold these items in large quantities. Ryan also would alter these items to make them appear as though they had been worn. Given the counts to which Ryan has pled guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
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