Arrest at the National?

[Eric]

Re: Arrest at the National?

Updated AP story, with quote from Chris Cavalier...

Man charged for selling fake jerseys
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Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS -- The head of a Minnesota sports memorabilia company was charged Thursday with orchestrating a scheme to sell fraudulent sports merchandise online, including fake baseball jerseys he claimed were worn during games by Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols.

U.S. postal inspectors arrested Steven Jensen, chief executive of Plymouth-based Vintage Sports Authentics, during a sports collectors' convention in Rosemont, Ill. He is charged in federal court in New York City with one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud.

Jensen, 40, of Osseo, and his company are accused of knowingly auctioning off jerseys between July 2007 and last month that were purportedly "game used," worn by prominent baseball players, but were not authentic.

If customers independently learned the jerseys were fake and returned them, Jensen allegedly re-auctioned them, authorities said. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service did not immediately put a dollar figure for the alleged scheme.

Messages left at Vintage Sports Authentics were not returned Thursday. A message seeking comment was also left at a telephone listing for Steven Jensen in Osseo.

Thomas Boyle, an assistant inspector-in-charge with the postal inspection service, said no merchandise was seized from Jensen's booth at the National Sports Collectors Convention on Thursday. Authorities also searched his company warehouse in Plymouth.

Vintage Sports Authentics auctions sports memorabilia "purported to be authentic and genuine," according to the criminal complaint filed in New York.

In July 2007, the complaint said, one customer in the Bronx paid more than $3,000 for a home Seattle Mariners jersey the company said was worn by Rodriguez during the 1995 season. The customer brought the jersey to a sports memorabilia show in New Rochelle, N.Y., in January 2010 for Rodriguez to sign.

An authenticator at the show determined the jersey was fake because the name plate fabric was different from the rest of the jersey, the complaint said.

The complaint said Jensen stood by the jersey's authenticity when approached by the customer, who eventually returned the jersey after a former Mariners equipment manager examined it and also concluded it wasn't genuine.

Vintage Sports Authentics re-auctioned the jersey online last February, falsely stating it was the real thing, the complaint said.

In another online auction, an undercover postal inspector paid $477 to buy an away Oakland Athletics jersey advertised as being worn by McGwire in 1997. The agent spoke with several people to determine the jersey was fake, including McGwire, according to the complaint.

The postal inspector showed McGwire a list of other memorabilia offered by Vintage Sports Authentics, including a Home Run Derby jersey purportedly worn by McGwire during the 1999 All-Star Game. McGwire told the agent he still has his Home Run Derby jersey, the complaint said.

The agent told Jensen the jersey was fake and returned it, and his company offered it online again as genuine, the complaint said.

Vintage Sports Authentics also offered an away St. Louis Cardinals jersey in February said to be worn by Pujols in 2002. But Pujols told officials he still possesses the only two away Cardinals jerseys issued to him for the 2002 season.

Christopher Cavalier, chief executive officer of Game Used Universe, which hosts online auctions and collector forums, said sports memorabilia collectors must educate themselves and examine jersey stitching, lettering, manufacturer's tags and other details to determine an item's authenticity.

"It's an unregulated industry," Cavalier said. "There is a lot of money to be made and if people aren't educated, the collector is the one who is going to lose out."

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Arrest at the National?

Joel and others:

I have been at the National every day and will be there for upcoming days (I'm writing this Thursday night); however, for health reasons, I am only attending for 4 hours per day, as the ride on public transportation to get there takes about 1.5 hours each way. I also have been sticking pretty close to the booth I am assisting at. I didn't see the Vintage commotion, but that could have been because I had not arrived yet or had already left, or I was not in the vicinity when the confrontation went down.

Dave Miedema

[corsairs25]

Re: Arrest at the National?

VA can argue that our man Lou Lampson said items were authentic and that's good enough for us. That could be a defense but I wonder how many people on a jury would accept such a defense - especially if a jury member was a member of this forum. If this case makes it to court, Lou Lampson will certainly be on someone's witness list. When Lou gets to the witness stand, I wonder how will he be treated? A "expert witness"?

Jim

flaa1a@comcast.net

Unindicted co-conspirator?

[David]

Re: Arrest at the National?

I don't know the facts or who knew what and when and don't pretend or claim to here, but if a McGwire jersey was returned to the seller because McGwire said he owned the only real one (one article says that's what McGwire said), how could it could it then be sold without knowledge that it wasn't real?

[David]

Re: Arrest at the National?

I don't think the specific issue is that a fake jersey was sold the firs time, but that it was returned with evidence it was fake then turn around and sold again as real.

[David]

Re: Arrest at the National?

So a major issue is what evidence was given that an item was fake to the seller when it was returned. If proof or majorly compelling evidence of fakery was given as reason for return, the reseller may be in majorly compelling tough spot.

But I don't know the who what where when.

[jppopma]

Re: Arrest at the National?

David hit the nail on the head. When the jersey was sold the 1st time, Steve could hide behind the consignor and a Lampson LOA. Once it was proved to be fake and returned, the burden would fall onto Steve to prove otherwise.

From the sounds of it, it seems like he just kept trying over and over to sell it. This would fall directly onto him. If Lampson, reapproved the jersey or told Steve "it's good, I know more than anyone who says it's fake"....then he would be culpable too.

As an auction house, I just wonder why Steve would not have returned the jersey to the consignor and seek legal remedy for the auction price? Maybe it was owned by him or someone within his company.

I'd love to hear the opinion of other auction houses and their concerns over this type of liability.

[gingi79]

Re: Arrest at the National?

I have no dog in this fight other than the truth. For all I know, Steve is a criminal and will be found a thief and punished. A few things to pnder however, just to tie in another ongoing thread here at GUU:

VA sells an item. The buyer claims it isn't real or the "so called experts who claim everyone elses stuff is fake and only their stuff is real" convinces him it's fake. Steve thinks the so called expert is wrong and the customer has buyers remorse. Rather than deal with the drama and feeling he can resell possibly for more anyway, he does what we expect all dealers and auction houses to do. He stands by his item, gave the buyer his money and takes the jersey back no questions asked.

VA would feel the same way everyone in that thread claims to feel. He knows the item is real, his authenticator tells him he is right. To the best of his knowledge, it is.

The main difference is, as a collector who didn't do the homework and due dilligence we feel bad for you. When it is an auction house or dealer, then they are out to screw us. While it appears that Steve is not innocent, perhaps it illustrates how quick we are to have that double standard.

[David]

Re: Arrest at the National?

If you read the article, the agent returned the 1999 All-Star Game McGwire jersey as fake after McGwire himself said it had to be fake because he owned the real one. So there wasn't much gray area there about its authenticity and why it was being returned in that instance.

[David]

Re: Arrest at the National?

However, I do agree that honest sellers will sometimes accept a return from an incorrect buyer and resell it, rather than get into a useless fight over the issue. I accepted a return once, then the buyer emailed me to admit he made the error not me. I knew I was right all along, but wasn't interested in a hassle.

[DeacDoug]

Re: Arrest at the National?

I think Steve did what most of us would do and that doesn't make it right. After more than 2 years, the buyer comes back with a Arod jersey he claims was not authentic. The buyer overpaid to begin with and then the "juicing" info came out on Arod. Steve had long since paid the consignor. Assuming that Steve ever agreed that the jersey was not good, he could have simply taken back the jersey and eaten the loss or taken it out of Lou's future pay. Instead, he tried to mitigate his losses by reselling the jersey. My concern is whether there was an orchestrated conspiracy to defraud between Steve and one or more consignors.

Again, I request any info to definitely establish that my 2002 road Pujois is not good. I'm guessing that, infortunately, I outbid the inspector who went to bed before I did. I know the PIs would like me to cooperate, but not sure that is in my best interest at this point. I doubt Albert had only two road jerseys for the 2002 season. He has his charity and wants the proceeds of all jerseys, helmets, or bats bearing his name going to that worthy cause.

[DeacDoug]

Re: Arrest at the National?

VA's site is back up. Looks like bidding as usual on current auction for time being.

[rj_lucas]

Re: Arrest at the National?

Again, I request any info to definitely establish that my 2002 road Pujois is not good.

I think most forum members would agree that Jeff Scott (birdbats.com) is one of the most credible and respected experts in the hobby in regards to Cardinals equipment. Coincidentally, in his August 1 blog entry Jeff commented on the 2002 Pujols jersey in the current VA auction, and noted that he has seen more bad road 2002 Pujols jerseys than any other style.

If I were in your position, I would seek out a credible resource like Jeff Scott or Dave Grob i.e. someone who will perform an actual forensic analysis, and have them take a look.

Rick

[DeacDoug]

Re: Arrest at the National?

Thank you, RJ.

[Bondsgloves]

Re: Arrest at the National?

I think Steve did what most of us would do and that doesn't make it right. After more than 2 years, the buyer comes back with a Arod jersey he claims was not authentic. The buyer overpaid to begin with and then the "juicing" info came out on Arod. Steve had long since paid the consignor. Assuming that Steve ever agreed that the jersey was not good, he could have simply taken back the jersey and eaten the loss or taken it out of Lou's future pay. Instead, he tried to mitigate his losses by reselling the jersey. My concern is whether there was an orchestrated conspiracy to defraud between Steve and one or more consignors.

Again, I request any info to definitely establish that my 2002 road Pujois is not good. I'm guessing that, infortunately, I outbid the inspector who went to bed before I did. I know the PIs would like me to cooperate, but not sure that is in my best interest at this point. I doubt Albert had only two road jerseys for the 2002 season. He has his charity and wants the proceeds of all jerseys, helmets, or bats bearing his name going to that worthy cause.

Don't we pay a 20% buyers premium to the auction houses. If an auction house is going to take 20% from the bidder, the risk should be on the auction house if the item turns out to be bad. I do not feel bad for the auction houses at all, they make a killing on fees, yet they complain when you come back and question an items authenticity.