OT: Criminal embezzles to buy forged autographs
 

I saw a recent article that convicted felon Jesse Jackson Jr. used political contributions to buy memorabilia that will now be auctioned to help recover debts. Look who has certified his autographs:

http://www.txauction.com/details.cfm?itemnum=7117

With that kind of money, you would have thought he would at least bought something authentic. :p

This was discussed on another autograph forum a few months ago. Yes, it appears the disgraced Jesse Jackson Jr. purchased most, if not all, of his memorabilia from various Las Vegas galleries that rarely, if ever, offer authentic material.

So it appears the U.S Marshal's Service, who is auctioning the seized assets, is trading in counterfeit memorabilia.

This was on the news last night, EVH contacted them and got this item removed

http://wgntv.com/2013/09/16/jesse-ja...-from-auction/

I just hung up with the auction house. They are haveing the Marshall's office call me in regards to the autographs. I also had them contact the FBI to have them check on the Donald and Drew Max.

Hilarious.

Everyone has something wrong with them. In addition to the stuff he got convicted for, Jackson apparently has a shopping habit. Very common addiction these days, along with all the usual ones.

As mentioned seems like a conflict of ethics for the government to seize stolen property and then sell fraudulent memorabilia it's actively trying to eliminate from the market.

Packs, I said that to the auction house. They said they could not take it down only the Marshalls office. I am waiting for there call.

This is actually kind of funny.

I don't understand how the government can sell memorabilia with certificates of authenticity from a person the FBI itself investigated and tried to indict for authenticating forged memorabilia. What kind of crap is this. I'm honestly outraged that so much money would be wasted on an investigation ten years ago, further money stolen, and now the government sanctions a sale of property they tried to eliminate from the marketplace.

Our tax dollars at work I guess.

Marshalls office takes every thing they get there hands on to get back money. They place it in auction houses and have really no idea if there real or not. Then the auction house is told there bad and they say the Marshalls gave them to us. It is a catch twenty two.
I hope I will be able to get them down.

Time for Raylan Givens?? :)

Crap. Someone's going to have to lose an audit to pay for all of this :(

Believe it or not, "the government" doesn't all work out of the same office and hang out around the water cooler talking over each others' cases. I would be very surprised if anyone at the Marshall's office even knows anyone who was investigating these guys, let alone is privy to the details of the case. I imagine it's much as Shelly described where everything is scooped up and shuffled off to the auction house with little or no thought to the possibility that any of it could be fake or the "certs" for each piece might just be a waste of perfectly good paper.

Hopefully with a bit of help from Shelly and others this can all be sorted out, but I really don't think this is a case of willful disregard for previous efforts by the FBI.

The only way to get traction with this is to have the media (ie the Chicago news) run a segment on it, that way the Marshals office will be forced to remove the listings.

Can anyone prove that Drew Max issues COAs for unauthentic items? Halls of Shame or some blog isn't going to be enough, we need real evidence.

Maybe someone knows someone at a TPA that is credited and can issue a statement?

I live in Chicago, so I have no problem contacting the stations, but they won't run anything without proof.

This is our best chance to prove Drew Max has no right to state an item is authentic or not.

I know the government doesn't work together as one solitary unit, but that is not a valid argument for what is happening here.

The FBI investigated Jackson Jr. Here is a quote from their own website on the case:

"The sentencings were announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Valerie Parlave, and Chief of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Richard Weber."

And the most damning aspect of the case as far as the FBI is concerned:

"In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave and Chief Weber commended the work of those who investigated the case for the FBI and IRS-CI. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service on the asset forfeiture aspects of the case. In addition, they commended those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office."


So here is the FBI thanking the US Marshals for seizing assets from Jackson Jr. that the FBI itself worked to eliminate from the marketplace during their own investigation.

These assets were then subsequently put up for sale to collectors the FBI is actively working to protect from just this type of fraud.

WHAT?? Drew Max authenticated for Pawn Stars. :D

This whole thing stinks.

I have contacted one of the writers in regards to this. I told him the whole story and he will be contacting the FBI, Marshalls Office and the Auction house. I will keep you updated on what is happening.
Issac, it would not hurt for you to contact the other people in Chicago. You can give them my name if you want. The Bruce Lee's are Greg Marino's.
714-731-7800

What dream world are you living in Isaac? There is as much chance of that happening as there is for the Mets to make the playoffs. The TPA's will NEVER do anything good like that.

I know that, but its a pipe dream. I want to think TPA's want bad stuff authenticated by shit shopsoff the market so the value of thier cert goes up.

I think getting the news involved would help though, nothing better than annoying media people asking questions.

Now it is a pipe dream for you?
Your initial question sounded like you were very serious to me.

We both know they wont help, but I would like to think they would be interested in the matter.

They would be interested in the matter....if someone pays them. They won't do it for any other reason.

Classic...like advertising Viagra and fake Rolexes together: a fake boner deserves a fake watch to go with it.

TPM LIVEWIRE

U.S. Marshals Cancel Auction Of Jesse Jackson Jr. Loot
This from the guy I told that they where forgerys:D

Good job Shelly

Now if we can just get them to quit selling the middle class