Two men from Washington State, Anthony Curcio and Iosif Bondarchuk, found themselves in hot water as they were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges were the result of their elaborate scheme involving the sale of fraudulently graded sports and Pokémon cards, which raked in over $2 million from unsuspecting buyers.
During the period between 2022 and May 2024, Curcio and Bondarchuk allegedly employed deceptive tactics to push these cards in the market. Their modus operandi included substituting lower-grade cards into cases that were misrepresented as higher-grade PSA 10 specimens, thus inflating their market values significantly.
One of the cards at the center of the scheme was a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card, falsely advertised as gem mint and fetching a whopping $171,000 in an online marketplace in Manhattan. However, scrutiny from the selling platform, MySlabs, revealed the card’s fraudulent nature, leading to further investigation by PSA and law enforcement. Other misrepresented cards included a 2009 Topps rookie card of Stephen Curry and a 1980 Topps card showcasing Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Julius Erving.
The fraudulent activities weren’t limited to sports cards, as Pokémon cards also fell victim to the scheme. A 1999 first-edition Venusaur card was misrepresented as a PSA 10 and sold for $10,500 to an undercover law enforcement officer in Manhattan.
Curcio and Bondarchuk allegedly tried to offload these cards through various avenues like card shops, shows, and online auctions. When buyers raised concerns over the authenticity of their purchases, Bondarchuk reportedly provided false contact information, attributing it to unrelated individuals in an attempt to mislead them.
If found guilty, both men could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The FBI and PSA’s Brand Protection division worked together during the investigation to safeguard collectors and ensure the integrity of the trading card market.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of diligence in the collectibles market and a cautionary tale for individuals contemplating engaging in similar deceitful practices.
