Two individuals hailing from Washington state, Anthony Curcio, 43, from Redmond, and Iosif Bondarchuk, 37, from Lake Stevens, have found themselves in hot water after being apprehended and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges levied against them revolve around their involvement in a nefarious scheme to peddle fraudulently graded sports and Pokémon cards, with a notable highlight being a counterfeit Michael Jordan rookie card, a deal that collectively swindled over $2 million from unsuspecting purchasers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York wasted no time in making their announcement regarding the duo’s actions. According to reports, between the period of 2022 and May 2024, Curcio and Bondarchuk allegedly partook in unscrupulous activities to offload these doctored cards. Their modus operandi supposedly involved swapping out lower-grade cards into cases that falsely portrayed them as higher-grade PSA 10 specimens, thus significantly boosting their monetary worth.
Among the items that were unethically traded, a standout piece was a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card that was deceitfully marketed as gem mint and eventually sold for a whopping $171,000 on an online platform in Manhattan. It wasn’t long before the selling platform, MySlabs, caught wind of the fraudulent act and promptly reported the matter to PSA and relevant law enforcement agencies. Other cards that were misrepresented in this elaborate scheme included a 2009 Topps rookie card of Stephen Curry and a 1980 Topps card showcasing Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Julius Erving.
The duplicitous conduct didn’t stop at sports cards; Pokémon cards were also embroiled in this fraudulent affair. For instance, a first-edition 1999 Venusaur card found its way into the hands of an undercover law enforcement officer in Manhattan for $10,500, deliberately classified as a PSA 10 when it was anything but.
Curcio and Bondarchuk stand accused of either selling or attempting to sell these duplicitous cards through various channels, ranging from card shops and exhibitions to online auctions. In scenarios where disgruntled buyers raised concerns about the legitimacy of their acquisitions, Bondarchuk allegedly resorted to deception by furnishing them with phony contact details that could be linked back to uninvolved third parties.
Should the allegations against them be proven in court, both perpetrators could be looking at a maximum sentence of up to 20 years behind bars. The collaborative efforts of the FBI and PSA’s Brand Protection division were instrumental in unearthing the truth during the investigative process, shedding light on the continual endeavors aimed at safeguarding collectors and preserving the integrity of the trading card market.
The implications of this case reverberate across the collectibles sector, emphasizing the critical need for unwavering vigilance and caution among buyers and sellers alike. It serves as a stark reminder to those contemplating engaging in similar underhanded practices that the consequences of such actions can be severe and far-reaching.