Two men hailing from Washington State, Anthony Curcio, aged 43 from Redmond, and Iosif Bondarchuk, aged 37 from Lake Stevens, have found themselves in legal hot water. The duo has been arrested and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges levied against them are a direct result of their involvement in a cunning scheme to dishonestly sell graded sports and Pokémon cards. Their fraudulent activities managed to rake in over $2 million from unsuspecting buyers.
Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed that Curcio and Bondarchuk were engaged in deceptive practices between 2022 and May 2024. The crux of their scheme involved swapping lower-grade cards into cases, falsely advertising them as higher-grade PSA 10 specimens. This misrepresentation significantly inflated the market values of these cards, allowing the perpetrators to reel in substantial profits.
One of the standout items involved in this fraudulent activity was a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card. The card was falsely advertised as being in gem mint condition and was sold for a whopping $171,000 through an online marketplace in Manhattan. Eventually, the selling platform MySlabs identified the card as fraudulent and promptly reported the matter to PSA and relevant law enforcement authorities. Other cards that were misrepresented included a 2009 Topps rookie card of basketball star Stephen Curry, as well as a 1980 Topps card featuring legends Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Julius Erving.
The fraudulent activities weren’t confined to sports cards alone, as Pokémon cards also featured in the scam. For instance, a 1999 first-edition Venusaur card was sold to an undercover law enforcement officer in Manhattan for $10,500, with a misleading PSA 10 label attached to it.
Curcio and Bondarchuk are facing allegations of selling or attempting to sell these deceitful cards across various platforms, such as card shops, shows, and online auctions. In cases where disgruntled buyers raised concerns regarding the authenticity of their purchases, Bondarchuk allegedly added to the deception by providing false contact information, attributing it to unrelated individuals.
Should the accused individuals be convicted, they could potentially be imprisoned for up to 20 years. The FBI and PSA’s Brand Protection division collaborated closely during the investigation, demonstrating a shared commitment to safeguarding collectors and upholding the integrity of the trading card market.
This case serves as an important reminder of the necessity for vigilance within the collectibles market. It also stands as a stark warning to any individuals contemplating engaging in similar deceitful practices—a cautionary tale of the consequences that await those who choose to tread the path of fraudulence.