Card faker admits eBay scam

http://thetimes-tribune.com/articles.../sc_times_trib.
20080823.a.pg3.tt23ebay_s1.1897978_top4.txt

Published: Saturday, August 23, 2008 6:55 AM EDT
BY ERIN L. NISSLEY
STAFF WRITER

A Monroe County man admitted Friday to making as much as $10,000
selling fake rookie trading cards on online auction site eBay, a scam
that could land him in prison for up to 20 years.

Jamie Lee Nucero, 25, of Marshalls Creek, pleaded guilty to mail fraud
after he was charged in federal court last month. He remains free
while awaiting sentencing, scheduled for mid-November.

In U.S. District Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie’s courtroom Friday,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne P. Samuelson said Mr. Nucero first came
to the attention of investigators in December, after a person in
California and another in Virginia reported they had been swindled.

In both cases, the victims were the winning bidders on what were
listed as “rookie trading cards” for star National Hockey League
players Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy. After sending their money to
Mr. Nucero’s former State College address, they received the
counterfeit cards.

State College police obtained a search warrant for the address, where
Mr. Nucero was living at the time. Officers found receipt slips from
eBay auctions and about 11,000 counterfeit trading cards for a variety
of sports, according to Mr. Samuelson.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a probation
sentence, though Judge Vanaskie does not have to follow that
recommendation.

Mail fraud carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and fines of up to
$250,000. Judge Vanaskie also may order Mr. Nucero to pay restitution,
though Mr. Samuelson said the total amount of money involved has yet
to be calculated.

Mr. Nucero makes his living selling sports cards on eBay, defense
attorney Joseph D’Andrea told Judge Vanaskie on Friday.

The judge decided that Mr. Nucero can continue to sell trading cards
under the supervision of federal probation officers.

“This is his only livelihood,” Mr. D’Andrea said. “If he does it
legitimately, I don’t see how it’s a problem.”

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Man admits selling fake trading cards

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/arti...08/08/22/news/
doc48af0e6a79c88914228281.txt

Published: Friday, August 22, 2008 3:07 PM EDT
By Erin L. Nissley / Staff Writer

A Monroe County man admitted Friday to making as much as $10,000
selling fake rookie trading cards on online auction site eBay, a scam
that could land him in prison for up to 20 years.

Jamie Lee Nucero, 25, of Marshalls Creek, pleaded guilty to mail fraud
after he was charged in federal court last month. He remains free
while awaiting sentencing, scheduled for mid-November.

In U.S. District Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie’s courtroom Friday,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne P. Samuelson said Mr. Nucero first came
to the attention of investigators in December, after a person in
California and another in Virginia reported that they were swindled.

In both cases, the victims were the winning bidders on what were
listed as “rookie trading cards” for star National Hockey League
players Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy. After sending their money to
Mr. Nucero’s former State College address, they received the
counterfeit cards.