Two men from Washington state, Anthony Curcio, 43, of Redmond, and Iosif Bondarchuk, 37, of Lake Stevens, find themselves in legal trouble after being arrested and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Their alleged misdeeds revolve around a fraudulent scheme involving the sale of graded sports and Pokémon cards, including a particularly noteworthy Michael Jordan rookie card, which collectively amassed an astounding sum of over $2 million from unsuspecting buyers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York revealed that between 2022 and May 2024, Curcio and Bondarchuk executed deceptive practices to peddle these cards. Their modus operandi reportedly involved swapping lower-grade cards into cases that misrepresented them as higher-grade specimens, notably PSA 10, thus artificially inflating their market values to deceive prospective purchasers.
A prime example of their fraudulent activities emerged in the form of a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card. This card, falsely purported to be in gem mint condition, fetched a staggering sum of $171,000 through an online marketplace located in Manhattan. However, the selling platform, MySlabs, later uncovered the deceit and promptly alerted both PSA and law enforcement authorities. Additionally, other misrepresented cards included a 2009 Topps rookie card of basketball star Stephen Curry and a 1980 Topps card showcasing Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Julius Erving.
The fraudulent activities extended beyond the realm of sports cards to encompass Pokémon cards as well. In one specific instance, a 1999 first-edition Venusaur card was illicitly sold to an undercover law enforcement officer in Manhattan for $10,500, deliberately mislabeled as a PSA 10 card.
Curcio and Bondarchuk stand accused of partaking in the sale or attempted sale of these fraudulent cards across a variety of platforms, including card shops, trade shows, and online auctions. Allegations suggest that when confronted by dissatisfied buyers questioning the authenticity of their purchases, Bondarchuk resorted to deception by furnishing false contact information, attributing it to unrelated individuals in an attempt to obfuscate their fraudulent activities.
In the event of a conviction, the two men could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The collaboration between the FBI and PSA’s Brand Protection division during the investigation underscores the ongoing commitment to safeguarding collectors and preserving the integrity of the trading card market.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for vigilance within the realm of collectibles and sends a clear warning to those contemplating engaging in similar deceptive practices. The consequences of fraud in the collectibles market not only jeopardize the financial interests of buyers but also erode trust within the industry.
