John Rogers: From Net 54 to Prison

[grainsley]

Greed does wonderful things to people.

[slidekellyslide]

I wonder when Peter Nash will write about this on Haulsofshame.com ?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Hmmmm.

In a lengthy Facebook post Monday, Rogers apologized for his actions and said he had no one to blame but himself. He even thanked federal investigators from saving him from "a downward spiral of cocaine addiction."

"Had they not stepped in, I would be dead now," Rogers wrote. "I made hugely regretful, shameful mistakes, clouded in the daily haze of drug addiction, that I am ready to acknowledge and accept."

[SAllen2556]

Very sad to read about Mary Brace and her father's photos. I'd sure like to know why she didn't use an auction house or consider donating them to an institution that could have preserved them. Went for the quick buck I suppose. Too bad.

[rjackson44]

I agree with scott .so sad man.

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

Very sad to read about Mary Brace and her father's photos. I'd sure like to know why she didn't use an auction house or consider donating them to an institution that could have preserved them. Went for the quick buck I suppose. Too bad.

Not the main point of this thread I know, but for what it's worth, Mary Brace hardly went for the quick buck when it came to the Burke/Brace collection. She operated the business of making prints from the negatives for years as her father's health declined, and continued for a decade after his passing. Without knowing the particulars of the deal with Rogers, I believe the big selling point for her was the promise of a return of digital scans of the negatives from which she could continue to supply prints to players and their families and fans. She could have easily turned the whole thing over to an auction house to part out and maximize her return, but in the end, she took the deal that would (she thought) best enable her to carry on the family business without the labor-intensive handling of the physical negatives.

In the interview below, she alludes to a website that was supposed to have been set up for the Burke/Brace archive that would have all of the digitized photos available, similar to what Rogers had done with the Conlon archive.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-14...miumvideo.html

I don't think she went for the quick buck at all, but perhaps let her desire to have the digitized archive override her business savvy. At the time, with Rogers having done similar deals with multiple newspapers to digitize their archives, having the Conlon website up and running, and by all appearances having the financial and physical ability to pull off what he was proposing, I don't think Mary had any real reason to question the deal that Rogers was offering. In hindsight, even in the quotes in the previous linked articles, she seemed to be lamenting the break-up and loss of the image archive more than the lack of restitution.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

Not the main point of this thread I know, but for what it's worth, Mary Brace hardly went for the quick buck when it came to the Burke/Brace collection. She operated the business of making prints from the negatives for years as her father's health declined, and continued for a decade after his passing. Without knowing the particulars of the deal with Rogers, I believe the big selling point for her was the promise of a return of digital scans of the negatives from which she could continue to supply prints to players and their families and fans. She could have easily turned the whole thing over to an auction house to part out and maximize her return, but in the end, she took the deal that would (she thought) best enable her to carry on the family business without the labor-intensive handling of the physical negatives.

In the interview below, she alludes to a website that was supposed to have been set up for the Burke/Brace archive that would have all of the digitized photos available, similar to what Rogers had done with the Conlon archive.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-14...miumvideo.html

I don't think she went for the quick buck at all, but perhaps let her desire to have the digitized archive override her business savvy. At the time, with Rogers having done similar deals with multiple newspapers to digitize their archives, having the Conlon website up and running, and by all appearances having the financial and physical ability to pull off what he was proposing, I don't think Mary had any real reason to question the deal that Rogers was offering. In hindsight, even in the quotes in the previous linked articles, she seemed to be lamenting the break-up and loss of the image archive more than the lack of restitution.

Very well said. And one of the biggest reasons that no one should feel sympathy for that lying sack of excrement. I hope he rots in prison for years.

[SAllen2556]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

Not the main point of this thread I know, but for what it's worth, Mary Brace hardly went for the quick buck when it came to the Burke/Brace collection. She operated the business of making prints from the negatives for years as her father's health declined, and continued for a decade after his passing. Without knowing the particulars of the deal with Rogers, I believe the big selling point for her was the promise of a return of digital scans of the negatives from which she could continue to supply prints to players and their families and fans. She could have easily turned the whole thing over to an auction house to part out and maximize her return, but in the end, she took the deal that would (she thought) best enable her to carry on the family business without the labor-intensive handling of the physical negatives.

In the interview below, she alludes to a website that was supposed to have been set up for the Burke/Brace archive that would have all of the digitized photos available, similar to what Rogers had done with the Conlon archive.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-14...miumvideo.html

I don't think she went for the quick buck at all, but perhaps let her desire to have the digitized archive override her business savvy. At the time, with Rogers having done similar deals with multiple newspapers to digitize their archives, having the Conlon website up and running, and by all appearances having the financial and physical ability to pull off what he was proposing, I don't think Mary had any real reason to question the deal that Rogers was offering. In hindsight, even in the quotes in the previous linked articles, she seemed to be lamenting the break-up and loss of the image archive more than the lack of restitution.

Yes, I can only imagine the degree of her lament. Thanks Lance, that certainly answers the question!

[MULLINS5]

My little brother (29 years old) was recently sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for armed robbery of three banks. He suffered from heroine addiction and believes he would be dead if he wasn't caught. He was a train conductor and made 100k a year, but it wasn't enough. Nobody in the family knew he was on drugs until he was arrested.

As a collector who has been scammed several times in my early days in this hobby, I feel for the victims. I also feel for Rogers because of my personal experience with my brother.

My brother is genuinely remorseful for what he did to the employees and customers in the banks on the days he robbed them. I didn't see anything about Rogers showing remorse for his actions, though I could have easily missed this (please correct me if I am wrong). Other than the victims who would've been scammed in the future, there are no winners here.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

Very sad to read about Mary Brace and her father's photos. I'd sure like to know why she didn't use an auction house or consider donating them to an institution that could have preserved them. Went for the quick buck I suppose. Too bad.

I purchased photographs from Mary Brace on a few occasions. She was always very pleasant to do business with. I was surprised when she sold the collection. She provided me with contact information (John Rogers) of the new owner of the collection. Eventually, I was able to contact John, but due to his lack of returning email messages in a timely matter, I was never able to purchase additional photographs. Ah well, with only $150 at stake, he had bigger fish to fry.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by biohazard

I purchased photographs from Mary Brace on a few occasions. She was always very pleasant to do business with. I was surprised when she sold the collection. She provided me with contact information (John Rogers) of the new owner of the collection. Eventually, I was able to contact John, but due to his lack of returning email messages in a timely matter, I was never able to purchase additional photographs. Ah well, with only $150 at stake, he had bigger fish to fry.

I had a chance to see Mr. Brace on a daily basis at Wrigley Field when I worked there in the '80's and while he could be occasionally gruff, I found him to be an awesome source of baseball information. He told stories of sitting in the dugout with Ruth and Gehrig and working with and being on a first name basis with most of the legends of the game during the 20th century. The man was like a walking Cooperstown with his stories he had in his head. I was saddened to read that his negatives were sold off and even more saddened to know his family got stiffed in the process. He was a man who was proud of his work and was diligent in everything he did.

Sometimes this awesome hobby just sucks because of the few a******* that are in it......

[Keith_Loving]

Not to bump an old thread, but I wish the contents on the hard drives that he tried to "steal" could be made available online for a price. I am sure there are scans on there that I would buy of particular lesser known players form the 1930s Cardinals teams. Hope the work that was put into scanning images onto the hard drives won't lead to a dead end.

I feel bad for Mary Brace, she had a treasure trove and its gone!

[sago]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I wonder when Peter Nash will write about this on Haulsofshame.com ?

Right after his series on the Cooperstown Forger

d@v1d. d@vls

[EvilKing00]

Screw a few people, make a few extra bucks and go to jail...

Seems to me you get much further in life being honest

[brian1961]

[QUOTE=EvilKing00;1584506]Screw a few people, make a few extra bucks and go to jail...

Seems to me you get much further in life being honest[/QUOTE

[Rookiemonster]

Hey atleast he'll be getting his hands on a bunch of SETs now. There is sure
To be a few color variation to chase.

[Fred]

Just out of curiosity, would JRs sentence have been heavier if he didn't claim his "drug addiction" as the cause of all his transgressions? If so, let me remember that.... note to self, if you ever think about committing a lot of crimes, don't forget to buy a lot of drugs as part of the plan, so that (if caught) I will get a lighter sentence when I apologize and blame the drug addiction.

I think one of the funniest/saddest parts of the saga was when he rolled on Doug.

What were the sentences they received?

[unamuzd1]

Originally Posted by Rookiemonster

Hey atleast he'll be getting his hands on a bunch of SETs now. There is sure
To be a few color variation to chase.

You might consider editing this to clarify, since I'm sure it doesn't mean what it looks like it means.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by EvilKing00

Screw a few people, make a few extra bucks and go to jail...

Seems to me you get much further in life being honest

Opinions vary greatly. Mastro only got 20 months and made millions. I would do 20 months for all the cash he made screwing people in a heartbeat. This is the guy who admitted doing anything to improve an item so it would sell for more cash.

Look at the Mastro shill bidder list. Look how many are still running auction houses or are big names in the card grading industry. It is actually quite sickening.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Opinions vary greatly. Mastro only got 20 months and made millions. I would do 20 months for all the cash he made screwing people in a heartbeat. This is the guy who admitted doing anything to improve an item so it would sell for more cash.

Look at the Mastro shill bidder list. Look how many are still running auction houses or are big names in the card grading industry. It is actually quite sickening.

Somes jobs where you make 20k a year feel more like prison then some of these Club Fed prisons where Mastro would be making about 1 million a month for 20 months apparently given what you stated.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

Somes jobs where you make 20k a year feel more like prison then some of these Club Fed prisons where Mastro would be making about 1 million a month for 20 months apparently given what you stated.

What's your basis for making that comparison?

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

Somes jobs where you make 20k a year feel more like prison then some of these Club Fed prisons where Mastro would be making about 1 million a month for 20 months apparently given what you stated.

I think that's a reasonable statement that doesn't need clarification.

[BengoughingForAwhile]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

Somes jobs where you make 20k a year feel more like prison then some of these Club Fed prisons where Mastro would be making about 1 million a month for 20 months apparently given what you stated.

Exactly what I was thinking. Brilliant minds think alike.

[vintagewhitesox]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Opinions vary greatly. Mastro only got 20 months and made millions. I would do 20 months for all the cash he made screwing people in a heartbeat. This is the guy who admitted doing anything to improve an item so it would sell for more cash.

Look at the Mastro shill bidder list. Look how many are still running auction houses or are big names in the card grading industry. It is actually quite sickening.

You wouldn't want to spend 1 minute in a federal prison, no matter where you are housed. They are horrible places that take away your freedom and your security is never insured. I wouldn't trade 20 million for my freedom and my family.

Rogers' arraignment is on 10/7. He hasn't been indicted which makes it sound like he will most likely plead guilty.
He will have a similar problem like Allen, with the obstruction of justice issue. Allen warned Rogers about the FBI raid, and if Rogers destroyed documents in anticipation of that raid, he's got a problem.
A judge can consider similarly situated defendants' sentences (i.e, Allen, Mastro) in fashioning a sentence for Rogers. Most likely he won't get higher than Allen, but not less than Mastro.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by vintagewhitesox

You wouldn't want to spend 1 minute in a federal prison, no matter where you are housed. They are horrible places that take away your freedom and your security is never insured. I wouldn't trade 20 million for my freedom and my family.

I am not sure how anybody got this 20 million figure. Maybe Jake's post that made no sense.

I have done time it really is not that bad. Like with life outside it is what you make it.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by vintagewhitesox

You wouldn't want to spend 1 minute in a federal prison, no matter where you are housed. They are horrible places that take away your freedom and your security is never insured. I wouldn't trade 20 million for my freedom and my family.

Rogers' arraignment is on 10/7. He hasn't been indicted which makes it sound like he will most likely plead guilty.
He will have a similar problem like Allen, with the obstruction of justice issue. Allen warned Rogers about the FBI raid, and if Rogers destroyed documents in anticipation of that raid, he's got a problem.
A judge can consider similarly situated defendants' sentences (i.e, Allen, Mastro) in fashioning a sentence for Rogers. Most likely he won't get higher than Allen, but not less than Mastro.

Rogers has a huge bank fraud to deal with which Mastro and Allen did not. I suspect his sentencing guidelines will be significantly higher; in addition, there won't be the same dispute as to loss amount as there was with Mastro and Allen which caused some of the concessions made by the feds at sentencing.

And of course, no one has ever claimed that Mastro made even remotely close to $20 million from his scheme. Not even close. The government claimed that Mastro made between 400K and a million dollars although Mastro destroyed bidding records which could have raised that figure. Assuming he stole $2 million, he also paid a 250K fine and probably a $1 million in legal fees. One would have to be crazy to want to become a felon, lose their reputation and livelihood and spend 20 months in prison for maybe a 750K gain. I think when you appreciate how little money he actually made from his fraud it becomes clear that Mastro was more interested in power than money. He had a very profitable business without the fraud. Rogers, on the other hand, was just a greedy, dishonest lowlife.