Mastro Auctions: Looking for Former Employees

[Leon]

I will put in a good word for Theo. Personally I think he is the epitome of good people can make bad mistakes. I have made bad ones before too and am thankful for a second chance.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Leon

I will put in a good word for Theo. Personally I think he is the epitome of good people can make bad mistakes. I have made bad ones before too and am thankful for a second chance.

Well put. Leon

[keithsky]

I agree people deserve a second chance but in the professional that there were sent to jail for? For example if someone works in a bank and steals money and personal info on customers and went to jail for it do you think the banking industry should hire that person back? I don't think they would. Plenty of other jobs out there. Wasn't Mastro ban from being in the Sports Memoribilia field now?

[Brian Van Horn]

Originally Posted by keithsky

I agree people deserve a second chance but maybe not in the professional that there were sent to jail for. For example if someone works in a bank and steals money and personal info on customers and went to jail for it do you think the banking industry should hire that person back? I don't think they would. Plenty of other jobs out there. Wasn't Mastro ban from being in the Sports Memoribilia field now?

I agree, but I can't help but think of Frank Abagnale.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Brian Van Horn

I agree, but I can't help but think of Frank Abagnale.

Absolutely! Wasn't that some movie with DiCapprio, Brian?

Best wishes always,

Larry

PS: I hope you gain access to the information necessary to thoroughly research your book, Mark. I look forward to reading it!

[Kenny Cole]

Nope. The fact that Heritage hired him simply cements the fact that I won't bid in one of their auctions again. Stuff doesn't always trump everything, nor should it IMO, so I'm out. I'm all for second chances, but not in the same industry where you have already displayed your inability to follow the basic rules that you lie about following. There are simply too many other options available that haven't yet disappointed me.

[timn1]

I agree. What is the difference between mark and Mastro or Allen? I’m amazed that people I consider men of integrity like Leon and Jay are so casual about the idea that someone with this history should be welcomed back into the same hobby that he ripped off.

Originally Posted by Kenny Cole

Nope. The fact that Heritage hired him simply cements the fact that I won't bid in one of their auctions again. Stuff doesn't always trump everything, nor should it IMO, so I'm out. I'm all for second chances, but not in the same industry where you have already displayed your inability to follow the basic rules that you lie about following. There are simply too many other options available that haven't yet disappointed me.

[mantlefan]

Originally Posted by keithsky

I agree people deserve a second chance but in the professional that there were sent to jail for? For example if someone works in a bank and steals money and personal info on customers and went to jail for it do you think the banking industry should hire that person back? I don't think they would. Plenty of other jobs out there. Wasn't Mastro ban from being in the Sports Memoribilia field now?

+1 Keith.

I plan on looking up Theotakis in Cleveland. I think we all should. Let him and HA know what we think of them.

Who in their right mind would consign with Heritage thru MT? He is toxic. Second chances should be given, but not a second chance for shilling and cheating Hobbyists. Let him get a job at the Post Office. Oh, I forgot, they don't hire ex-cons.

[oldjudge]

I agree with Leon 100%. Mark did his time and I hope being around the quality guys at Heritage will allow him, over time, the opportunity to repair his reputation.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

I agree with Leon 100%. Mark did his time and I hope being around the quality guys at Heritage will allow him, over time, the opportunity to repair his reputation.

Would you feel the same way if Heritage had hired Bill Mastro?

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Would you feel the same way if Heritage had hired Bill Mastro?

That's a hypothetical that would never happen. However, Mike Milken has been accepted back into the finance industry. Steroid users are allowed back into baseball. Look at A-Rod now as a commentator on ESPN game broadcasts.
Speaking of which, did anyone else catch when Jessica Mendoza (with A-Rod sitting right next to her), talking about Albert Pujols, saying that 3000 hits and 600 homers is an automatic entry to the HOF.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

I agree with Leon 100%. Mark did his time and I hope being around the quality guys at Heritage will allow him, over time, the opportunity to repair his reputation.

I’m curious about your stance. When NJ Dunkin admitted his wrongdoing (which was relatively minor in comparison to anything connected with Mastro), you were among the first to write him off with a “bye, Felicia” (which was funny, but that’s not the point.) So after NJ does his “time,” can we rightfully sssume you’d support his reentry into the mainstream so he can rebuild his reputation?

Sam Sw@rtz, but my full name is always in the header

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

I agree with Leon 100%. Mark did his time and I hope being around the quality guys at Heritage will allow him, over time, the opportunity to repair his reputation.

Except their stated rules allow them to bid on their own auction items.

Would you be happy if a bank teller who stole money was back working at your bank and it was legal for them to steal from you?

There is a nuance in this case that is much different than just giving someone a second chance ...

jeff

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

Except their stated rules allow them to bid on their own auction items.

Would you be happy if a bank teller who stole money was back working at your bank and it was legal for them to steal from you?

There is a nuance in this case that is much different than just giving someone a second chance ...

jeff

That is why he makes such a great addition, he has experience.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by mantlefan

+1 Keith.

Second chances should be given, but not a second chance for shilling and cheating Hobbyists. Let him get a job at the Post Office. Oh, I forgot, they don't hire ex-cons.

Yes, they do. Several years ago I interviewed and hired a person who had committed a felony when he was in his late teens. We discussed it at the interview and I hired him. He turned out to be one of the best employees that I hired during my 18 years as a Postmaster.

Rick

[GaryPassamonte]

I always liked Mark, too, but I don't like the fact that he was part of a plan that stole several thousand dollars from me and many, many others. I am all for second chances, but I know my conscience would not rest knowing zero effort has been made to pay restitution to the bilked bidders.

[Buythatcard]

People should be given second chances in life but not allowed back in the same industry where they committed a crime.

I was shilled by Mastro and I can never forgive anyone who has ripped me off. I worked very hard my whole life to make a living. I am not going to forgive someone who stole money from me.

We should be trying to clean the hobby up. We are not here to give second chances to people who took advantage of us.

I have been a customer of Heritage for several years and now am having second thoughts after hearing who they hired.

[mantlefan]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

People should be given second chances in life but not allowed back in the same industry where they committed a crime.

I was shilled by Mastro and I can never forgive anyone who has ripped me off. I worked very hard my whole life to make a living. I am not going to forgive someone who stole money from me.

We should be trying to clean the hobby up. We are not here to give second chances to people who took advantage of us.

I have been a customer of Heritage for several years and now am having second thoughts after hearing who they hired.

I feel the same way, Howard, and I emailed Chris Ivy when this first came out.

Basically Ivy told me to pound sand.


Edited to add:


"Pound Sand"

"The origin of the expression "go pound sand" is from a longer expression, "not to know (have enough sense to) pound sand down a rathole. "Filling rat holes with sand is menial work, and telling someone to pound sand down a hole is like telling them to go fly a kite. The expression dates to at least 1912 and is common in the midwestern United States."

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

People should be given second chances in life but not allowed back in the same industry where they committed a crime.

I was shilled by Mastro and I can never forgive anyone who has ripped me off. I worked very hard my whole life to make a living. I am not going to forgive someone who stole money from me.

We should be trying to clean the hobby up. We are not here to give second chances to people who took advantage of us.

I have been a customer of Heritage for several years and now am having second thoughts after hearing who they hired.

There is also the the issue of 'fool me once shame on you....

If someone gets burned by Heritage now due to something caused by Theo, its not like Heritage can claim they didnt know about him when hiring him so I am sure they assessed the risk and find him a good risk. They will be in the line of fire.

Im all for giving people 2nd chances as well especially if they go into trouble as a teenager like someone said in this thread

with that being said, i am into giving people first chances too who may not have an opportunity due to someone being given a second chance...plus the reason the person may be given a second chance is because of unique knowledge and networking that may of partially be gained due to being part of a conspiracy/criminal enterprise. They can be all cleaned up now, but the fact they got all this information puts them ahead of someone trying to get a a first chance. Again i am talking generally.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Leon

I will put in a good word for Theo. Personally I think he is the epitome of good people can make bad mistakes. I have made bad ones before too and am thankful for a second chance.

A big +1 there! Haven't we all?

Highest regards,

Larry

[REDSOX42]

Originally Posted by Leon

I will put in a good word for Theo. Personally I think he is the epitome of good people can make bad mistakes. I have made bad ones before too and am thankful for a second chance.

Leon,

I agree with you on your support for Mark...well stated.
You don't just talk-the-talk, but you also walk-the-walk.

Regards,
Paul

[Peter_Spaeth]

I ask this out of genuine interest not to confront. For those of you who support Heritage's decision, would you equally support a decision by a major auction house to hire Bill? And if not, what's the difference?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I ask this out of genuine interest not to confront. For those of you who support Heritage's decision, would you equally support a decision by a major auction house to hire Bill? And if not, what's the difference?

No, I would not support a decision to hire Bill or Doug. Different crimes committed, or at least severity. And as you well know, that is why the sentencing guidelines were different.

But yes, answering any question why there is support for someone who did what Mark did, is setting oneself up for disaster. That is why there are crickets. I know all 3 of them, I would only support Mark being hired....not that my support matters or not. I think Mark was lead down a bad path and don't think he will do it again. That is my opinion. I am not saying he didn't know what he was doing when he did it. He did and paid for it.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Leon

No, I would not support a decision to hire Bill or Doug. Different crimes committed, or at least severity. And as you well know, that is why the sentencing guidelines were different.

But yes, answering any question why there is support for someone who did what Mark did, is setting oneself up for disaster. That is why there are crickets. I know all 3 of them, I would only support Mark being hired....not that my support matters or not. I think Mark was lead down a bad path and don't think he will do it again. That is my opinion. I am not saying he didn't know what he was doing when he did it. He did and paid for it.

My mom used to say " if your friends jump off the Brooklyn bridge are you going to jump too?" In response to my telling her I did the wrong thing because my friends were doing it. It drives home the point that our integrity is our own to be in or out of alignment with based on decisions we alone make.

There are moments in life where we are faced with decisions to violate or stay aligned with our integrity. If Mark is as "good" a guy as some say - he fell flat on his face with this one. He has been accountable (questionable as to if that was of his own accord or forced because he was caught), but as mentioned earlier - has he made restitution to those he harmed? Did he receive financial rewards for his actions? Did he share as much of the story as he knew with those prosecuting the case to help fill in the blanks of the destroyed records?

I am first in line for forgiveness. It is not my place to judge others. Forgiveness also allows me to live with a lighter heart. I have a retail business and people have stolen from me. I have forgiven all of them ( I have not communicated that to some as the forgiveness first and foremost is about my freedom from their actions). I also have not allowed them back into a position where they could steal from me again. I was shilled by Mastro auctions (1time that I caught them in and refused to pay for the lot that the prior night it said I was outbid on). I am sure I was shilled other times as well. I forgive them. I also don't/wouldn't choose to do business with them again when they finish their time.

I don't know mark nor choose to judge him. I pray that he has learned from his mistakes and will find it easier to stay aligned with his integrity. I am uncomfortable that he has a position in an auction house I have bid with recently.

[ruth-gehrig]

Hopefully everyone here has read the available list of shill bidders closely enough to know that Mark isn't the only former Mastro employee who is now at Heritage.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by ruth-gehrig

Hopefully everyone here has read the available list of shill bidders closely enough to know that Mark isn't the only former Mastro employee who is now at Heritage.

I read the list. Who else is on it that is at heritage now?

Who is Jennifer stein? Paired up with Irv Lerner a lot on the list - shilled me at least once on the list!

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by ruth-gehrig

Hopefully everyone here has read the available list of shill bidders closely enough to know that Mark isn't the only former Mastro employee who is now at Heritage.

+1

[mantlefan]

Originally Posted by REDSOX42

Leon,

I agree with you on your support for Mark...well stated.
You don't just talk-the-talk, but you also walk-the-walk.

Regards,
Paul

Deciding to go to work every day and cheat people for years isn't a bad mistake. It's a career criminal plying his trade.

[ruth-gehrig]

Recap
https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...yee-sentenced/

[Tabe]

From 2007-2009 alone, investigators believe Mastro, Allen and Theotikos drove up bids on items by nearly $1 million.

Yep, just "a mistake". A multi-year escapade that ripped off people to the tune of over $1,000,000. Just "a mistake". SMH.

[irv]

When I first started reading this thread, I agreed with most that everyone deserves a second chance but the more opinions I read and the more I learned about the man the more I changed my thoughts on this.

Currently I am still on the fence, with a slight tilt to the left, saying no way should he have been hired back into the hobby but I also think if he is being used for his expertise (If he has some?) and providing consultation trying to help clean up the hobby by identifying fraudulent cards and memorabilia, then I am not so sure that is a bad thing.

Someone mentioned in this thread, Frank Abagnale. (Catch me if you can) If I am not mistaken, he was hired as a consultant and has likely helped the U.S. Gov't/FBI/CIA, etc, by identifying same/similar frauds/scams and the like that he once used saving the American people/Gov't millions of dollars?

If this is the case, then I must admit I am all for it, but if he is doing none of this, then no way do I agree with this hiring based on what I have read about the man and how many people, over the years, he has ripped off.

Frank Abagnale:
Legitimate jobs
In 1974, after he had served less than five years of his 12-year sentence at Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Virginia, the United States federal government released him on the condition that he help the federal authorities, without pay, to investigate crimes committed by fraud and scam artists, and sign in once a week.[21] Unwilling to return to his family in New York, he left the choice of parole up to the court and it was decided that he would be paroled in Texas.

After his release, Abagnale tried numerous jobs, including cook, grocer, and movie projectionist, but he was fired from most of these after it was discovered he had been hired without revealing his criminal past. Finding these jobs unsatisfying, he approached a bank with an offer. He explained to the bank what he had done and offered to speak to the bank's staff and show them various tricks that "paperhangers" use to defraud banks. His offer included the condition that if they did not find his speech helpful, they would owe him nothing; otherwise, they would owe him only $500 with an agreement that they would provide his name to other banks.[22] With that, he began a legitimate life as a security consultant.[23]

He later founded Abagnale & Associates, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma,[23] which advises companies on fraud issues. Abagnale also continues to advise the FBI, with whom he has associated for over 40 years, by teaching at the FBI Academy and lecturing for FBI field offices throughout the country. According to his website, more than 14,000 institutions have adopted Abagnale's fraud prevention programs.[24]

Abagnale testified before the US Senate in November 2012 about the vulnerabilities of senior citizens to fraud, particularly stressing the ubiquitous use of Social Security numbers for identification included on Medicare cards.[25][26][27]

[Jenx34]

Originally Posted by irv

When I first started reading this thread, I agreed with most that everyone deserves a second chance but the more opinions I read and the more I learned about the man the more I changed my thoughts on this.

Currently I am still on the fence, with a slight tilt to the left, saying no way should he have been hired back into the hobby but I also think if he is being used for his expertise (If he has some?) and providing consultation trying to help clean up the hobby by identifying fraudulent cards and memorabilia, then I am not so sure that is a bad thing.

Someone mentioned in this thread, Frank Abagnale. (Catch me if you can) If I am not mistaken, he was hired as a consultant and has likely helped the U.S. Gov't/FBI/CIA, etc, by identifying same/similar frauds/scams and the like that he once used saving the American people/Gov't millions of dollars?

If this is the case, then I must admit I am all for it, but if he is doing none of this, then no way do I agree with this hiring based on what I have read about the man and how many people, over the years, he has ripped off.

Frank Abagnale:
Legitimate jobs
In 1974, after he had served less than five years of his 12-year sentence at Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Virginia, the United States federal government released him on the condition that he help the federal authorities, without pay, to investigate crimes committed by fraud and scam artists, and sign in once a week.[21] Unwilling to return to his family in New York, he left the choice of parole up to the court and it was decided that he would be paroled in Texas.

After his release, Abagnale tried numerous jobs, including cook, grocer, and movie projectionist, but he was fired from most of these after it was discovered he had been hired without revealing his criminal past. Finding these jobs unsatisfying, he approached a bank with an offer. He explained to the bank what he had done and offered to speak to the bank's staff and show them various tricks that "paperhangers" use to defraud banks. His offer included the condition that if they did not find his speech helpful, they would owe him nothing; otherwise, they would owe him only $500 with an agreement that they would provide his name to other banks.[22] With that, he began a legitimate life as a security consultant.[23]

He later founded Abagnale & Associates, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma,[23] which advises companies on fraud issues. Abagnale also continues to advise the FBI, with whom he has associated for over 40 years, by teaching at the FBI Academy and lecturing for FBI field offices throughout the country. According to his website, more than 14,000 institutions have adopted Abagnale's fraud prevention programs.[24]

Abagnale testified before the US Senate in November 2012 about the vulnerabilities of senior citizens to fraud, particularly stressing the ubiquitous use of Social Security numbers for identification included on Medicare cards.[25][26][27]

I don't know what his role is with Heritage, but Abagnale's is not a good comparison regardless. Abagnale never went to work for a bank where he had access to anything, he was merely a consultant teaching banks to avoid fraud, just as he was doing with the Federal Government.

A proper comparison would be if Mark Theotkis (sp?) would consult with all auction houses that want to pay him to help them prevent fraud, identify counterfeit items, etc.