Mastro Set to get 30 months or less- NY Daily News

[Leon]

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Mastro Set to get 30 months or less- NY Daily News-

It's coffee talk time (does a shooing motion with hands). Y'all talk amongst yourselves....



http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/i-...icle-1.1306273



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[ullmandds]

Hmmm...our politico-legal system at work!? What a lame judgment...it pays to have friends in high places...it pays a lot!

[conor912]

Less than $70k my a$$

[Peter_Spaeth]

Interesting brief by the government. They justify not getting an agreement to testify against Allen on the ground that Mastro was candid in an interview. Their calculation of the amount involved seems quite low, to say the least.

[Peter_Spaeth]

In considering what might constitute a sufficient, but not greater than
necessary term of imprisonment, the government also considered mitigating evidence
presented by defense counsel concerning Mastro’s character. This included information
about Mastro’s personal and family history, and conduct that was unrelated to the
offense but provided insight into the government’s assessment Mastro’s risk to
recidivate. The government expects defense counsel to present this information to the
Court at sentencing, in the event the Court accepts the proposed plea agreement. The
government’s assessment however, was that a below-guidelines sentence (assuming the
correctness of the government’s calculation) would be appropriate.

[Jewish-collector]

Does that mean Mastro won't be speaking at this year's Net54 dinner ?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Many potential bidders knew or should have known that shill bidding
was present in the auction, but were willing to pay an inflated value of an
item in order to own it. In such instances, there was no fraud.
C In instances where the bidding far exceeded the last shill bid, there was
no harm or loss incurred. Instead, the item went for its fair market value.
C The value of the item won and purchased has since increased. As such,
there is no loss to the winning bidder.

[Tony Gordon]

The way I read the story, Mastro wasn't sentenced or even convicted yet. The story is based on the Fed's brief explaining why they agreed to the 30-month plea deal. The judge still has to approve the deal.

I find nonsensical the assertion that Mastro's brother, the former deputy mayor of NY, has influenced the federal court in Chicago.

[botn]

From the article:

"In a memorandum filed in Chicago federal court on Tuesday, Assistant United States Attorney Nancy DePodesta acknowledged that prosecutors believe Mastro stole up to $1 million from collectors through shill bidding, while Mastro’s defense team says the one-time king of cards stole less than $70,000 from bidders."

Whether it was 70K, a million or something in between, even at 1 million that pales in comparison to what each of the top card doctors take off of collectors every year. Does not take many PSA 10s or SGC 98s to get to a million bucks.

Not saying shill bidding should not be stopped but think the Feds were placed on the wrong trail if they really wanted to clean up the hobby.

[glynparson]

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by botn

From the article:

"In a memorandum filed in Chicago federal court on Tuesday, Assistant United States Attorney Nancy DePodesta acknowledged that prosecutors believe Mastro stole up to $1 million from collectors through shill bidding, while Mastro’s defense team says the one-time king of cards stole less than $70,000 from bidders."

Whether it was 70K, a million or something in between, even at 1 million that pales in comparison to what each of the top card doctors take off of collectors every year. Does not take many PSA 10s or SGC 98s to get to a million bucks.

Not saying shill bidding should not be stopped but think the Feds were placed on the wrong trail if they really wanted to clean up the hobby.

Well in fairness they did bring in the Wagner, although I am on record as agreeing with you repeatedly that card doctoring is a much bigger problem than shill bidding. Speaking of which, will David Hall continue to insist the Wagner was good in the face of a court submission?

[botn]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Well in fairness they did bring in the Wagner, although I am on record as agreeing with you repeatedly that card doctoring is a much bigger problem than shill bidding.

That is 1 of probably hundreds of thousands of altered cards floating around in graded holders.

Speaking of which, will David Hall continue to insist the Wagner was good in the face of a court submission?

Grading companies do not like to buy back cards. And typically they don't unless they are forced. Once the holder is sealed, the card is graded correctly.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Well in fairness they did bring in the Wagner, although I am on record as agreeing with you repeatedly that card doctoring is a much bigger problem than shill bidding. Speaking of which, will David Hall continue to insist the Wagner was good in the face of a court submission?

Well I guess it's a matter of how you prefer to be defrauded.
I guess maybe in terms of sheer magnitude and total monetary effect.

[ullmandds]

Funny...I stumbled upon this book today at 1/2 price books and couldn't resist for $6. It's actually a very entertaining book featuring many real images of vintage cards we all know and love...not just most generic stuff. I mean how cool is this raw goudey tobacco box image???!!!!

Maybe it was these such intangibles...ie bookmaking skills...that got Bill's proposed sentence downsized?!?!

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Well I guess it's a matter of how you prefer to be defrauded.
I guess maybe in terms of sheer magnitude and total monetary effect.

+1

Card doctoring mostly affects the geniuses collecting mint tobacco cards (post war too)

As far as Bill, at least he didn't rat on his friends, I respect him for that.