FBI Arrests Two Men for Forging $2 Million of PSA Graded Pokemon and Sports Cards

[Water Pokémon Master]

The FBI has announced charges against two Washington men accused of forging PSA graded Pokemon and sports cards, resulting in over $2 million in losses for victims across the United States. The pair have been charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, both charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
From at least 2022 to May 2024, the FBI alleges that Anthony Curcio, 43, and Iosif Bondarchuk, 37, altered or forged PSA labels to make cards appear to have higher grades. The pair used fake identities to sell the slabs at card shops, auctions, card shows, and online marketplaces. Even after the pair were informed their slabs were fake, they continued to sell them.

In July 2023, an undercover law enforcement officer purchased a fake PSA 10 Venusaur from Curcio for $10,500...

Continue reading...

 

[www.YoCrypto.org]

So I'm assuming this PSA 10 1st edition Charizard in bought from them is fake?

 

[MarlinRimes]

Damn, 20 years for fake Pokemon cards

 

[Tomasko26]

There was a typo. Convinced should be convicted. (I think if that was what was intended)

This would be an interesting case to be a jury member on LOL

 

[bbb888]

How can you tell the PSA 10 Venusaur is fake??

 

[Mephistion]

How can you tell the PSA 10 Venusaur is fake??

It was a sticker on top of another card.

 

[ApricornNut]

 

[VitaminD3]

Oh wow, there goes my get rich quick scheme. Back to the drawing board.

 

[Shadowy51]

Oh wow, there goes my get rich quick scheme. Back to the drawing board.

Whomp Whomp xD

 

[Stunky]

Stuff like this is always so crazy to me. Like, first of all it’s wild to make that much money off playing cards in general and it’s even crazier to me that these guys were willing keep going with their trade well after they had people catch on.
We need to stop making crime shows about unsolved murders and start making crime shows about people pulling stunts like this.

 

[Jaxolotl]

Damn, 20 years for fake Pokemon cards

Prisoner: I'm in here for breaking and entering.
Prisoner 2: I'm in here for murder.
Prisoner 3: Uhm.... *cough* I'm in here for *cough* Pokemon cards....

 

[bunnelbyfeetsniffer]

Damn, 20 years for fake Pokemon cards

it’s more for the $2m they essentially stole but yeah that’s hilarious

 

[Conker307]

it’s more for the $2m they essentially stole but yeah that’s hilarious

Beyond Felony! xD