Certainly Didn’t Expect to See that at the National.

[oldjudge]

Bill paid for what he did wrong which is more than can be said for many others in the hobby. I wish him and his family well and hope he lives a happy and productive life.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Bill paid for what he did wrong which is more than can be said for many others in the hobby. I wish him and his family well and hope he lives a happy and productive life.

I would agree there are lots of unpunished sinners out there. Lots.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Bill paid for what he did wrong which is more than can be said for many others in the hobby. I wish him and his family well and hope he lives a happy and productive life.

Yep.... they could've gone after (and could still be going after) so many others who's actions are just as bad or worse.

[Aaron Seefeldt]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Bill paid for what he did wrong which is more than can be said for many others in the hobby. I wish him and his family well and hope he lives a happy and productive life.

+1
I saw and talked with him at the National. So glad to see him after so many years. He helped me tremendously when I was starting out as a dealer in the mid 90’s. I know he did a lot of damage but I have nothing but love for him.

I remember the 1st time I consigned with him. He invited me to his home (I live in Chicagoland) and he showed me his t206 Wagner, a complete ‘33 Goudey set (all NrMt and better), and a complete set of s81 silks in Mint condition! On one side the wall was like a museum with a full game worn uniform of Cobb surrounded by incredible photos and memorabilia. Then… in walked his young daughter & his eyes lit up with true happiness and everything else was just “stuff”.

[glynparson]

The ass kissing of this prick is pathetic.

[chiprop]

I mostly refrain from commenting on threads because this board can be cruel sometimes, but the man has paid for his crime, period! Even Jesus forgives. Are you better than Jesus? Which one of us hasn’t made a terrible mistake our lives and doesn’t wish we could go back and change what we did. Look inside and try to have some compassion. My two cents…

[CurtisFlood]

Just as I was finished setting up early in the show a well dressed man stopped and chatted with me. I introduced my self and He told me his name was Bill Mastro. I said I certainly recognize that name. He made a self deprecating remark something like everybody knows me as infamous. I wished him well and he continued his rounds.

I never did business with his company, but I agree with others who maintain he has paid his debt to society.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by chiprop

I mostly refrain from commenting on threads because this board can be cruel sometimes, but the man has paid for his crime, period! Even Jesus forgives. Are you better than Jesus? Which one of us hasn’t made a terrible mistake our lives and doesn’t wish we could go back and change what we did. Look inside and try to have some compassion. My two cents…

I so badly want to respond and say "I'm better than Jesus", but that would probably be a bad idea.

Insert smiley face here.

Doug

[brianp-beme]

Felipe and Matty were better than Jesus when it comes to Alou brothers.

Brian

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Felipe and Matty were better than Jesus when it comes to Alou brothers.

Brian

Amazing!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by chiprop

I mostly refrain from commenting on threads because this board can be cruel sometimes, but the man has paid for his crime, period! Even Jesus forgives. Are you better than Jesus? Which one of us hasn’t made a terrible mistake our lives and doesn’t wish we could go back and change what we did. Look inside and try to have some compassion. My two cents…

You do realize there is a significant portion of the world that isn't particularly interested in what Jesus may or may not have said and done, right?

That being said there's a difference between forgiving and forgetting.

[RL]

Originally Posted by glynparson

The ass kissing of this prick is pathetic.

I agree

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by RL

I agree

I can't believe that he will be permitted to be a part of the hobby in any fashion.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I can't believe that he will be permitted to be a part of the hobby in any fashion.

Permitted by whom?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Permitted by whom?

The hobby police.

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I can't believe that he will be permitted to be a part of the hobby in any fashion.

What does that even mean? He spent a significant time in jail away from his family. If you think this is nothing spend a day or two behind bars yourself and see if you still think it is nothing. How much did you lose as a result of Mastro? No one wants to answer the question. I’m going to guess very little if anything.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

What does that even mean? He spent a significant time in jail away from his family. If you think this is nothing spend a day or two behind bars yourself and see if you still think it is nothing. How much did you lose as a result of Mastro? No one wants to answer the question. I’m going to guess very little if anything.

I never lost a cent with this guy but I did lose a lot with people like him. As a kid I had a dealer like Bill sell me a 181 Ruth that was fake. Did I lose money? Sure, if it was real when I went to sell it I was probably out 15-20k. The greater sin was loss of trust.
Bill chose to risk being away from his family out of his own personal arrogance and hubris, shame on him for risking his family for business. Why would a man even risk being away from his children by breaking the law?
Bill chose to betray people's trust for profit. Would you do the same?
Seriously, would you sell me an altered card knowing I was bidding on it as genuine?
Would you treat me so poorly as a bidder that you would have your friends shill bid so I paid more?
Would you victimize your family and clients the way Bill did? I'm guessing no.
He might of showed up at the Natty with hat in hand looking for forgiveness but he certainly hasn't made amends to the people he victimized.
He sounds like a nice guy, believe me, all guys like that are likable, that's their gig. I would question his moral compass and integrity as a human but that's just me.
He didn't rip me off but he has a reputation for ripping people off so I would take a hard pass on him being a part of my life.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

What does that even mean? He spent a significant time in jail away from his family. If you think this is nothing spend a day or two behind bars yourself and see if you still think it is nothing. How much did you lose as a result of Mastro? No one wants to answer the question. I’m going to guess very little if anything.

Jay, I only meant I assumed, as others pointed out, that at his sentencing he was prohibited from ever engaging in the collectibles industry again.
In 2005 or so, when I decided to fold the Full Count tent, I auctioned off the inventory and my personal collection via Kevin Struss to Mastro. With Kevin as my watchdog, I doubt there was any hanky panky but the results were indifferent. For example, I sold a M101-5 RC of Ruth SGC 5.5 personally graded by Derek Grady when he was with SGC and received about $15,000. I shudder to think what that card would fetch in today's market.

[RL]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

What does that even mean? He spent a significant time in jail away from his family. If you think this is nothing spend a day or two behind bars yourself and see if you still think it is nothing. How much did you lose as a result of Mastro? No one wants to answer the question. I’m going to guess very little if anything.

how long were you locked up for?

[Luke]

If I owned Memory Lane I would be pissed to find out that this guy was behind my booth. Terrible optics no matter what the story is.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Luke

If I owned Memory Lane I would be pissed to find out that this guy was behind my booth. Terrible optics no matter what the story is.

He may have been talking to the owner, they do have something in common, and in any event I am sure ML will be fine.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

He may have been talking to the owner, they do have something in common, and in any event I am sure ML will be fine.

Sounds Crazy but I agree with both Luke and Pete. I think it might be something as simple as Pete says but unfortunately the optics are not good at the moment(maybe as more time passes.) But of course the Auction House will be fine

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by glynparson

The ass kissing of this prick is pathetic.

+100000. I hope he and all the other crooks in the hobby end up eating out of KFC garbage bins.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Meanwhile, the reality is that many of the crooks have made millions over the years, are living quite well, and are at little or no risk.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Meanwhile, the reality is that many of the crooks have made millions over the years, are living quite well, and are at little or no risk.

100% Agree and made it off the backs of others that lost what that could not afford to

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Meanwhile, the reality is that many of the crooks have made millions over the years, are living quite well, and are at little or no risk.

This.

They made an example of Mastro and his gang, because they were "King of the Hill" at the time (and deserved what they got). But for some reason they continue to turn a blind eye to those who are even more blatantly corrupt (and are currently thriving).

Trimming, altering, shilling and lying should be punishable crimes, regardless of your selling platform or who you are.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by perezfan

This.

They made an example of Mastro and his gang, because they were "King of the Hill" at the time (and deserved what they got). But for some reason they continue to turn a blind eye to those who are even more blatantly corrupt (and are currently thriving).

Trimming, altering, shilling and lying should be punishable crimes, regardless of your selling platform or who you are.

Honestly, if I were a federal agent or prosecutor, and I saw how little impact on behavior all the revelations over the last couple of years have had, and how the collecting/investing world just wants more and more of the same, I might question if going after card doctors and their enablers was really the most productive use of my time and resources. Particularly where the rules of evidence would make most of these tougher cases to prove in court than it might appear on a chatboard.