Apparently, a guy named Barry Ron Skog (a.k.a "Ron Petersen") from Burnsville, Minnesota, advertised (and then sold) five total Seated Liberty coins - two halves, two dollars, and one 20-cent silver piece - in Numismatic News; he listed them as genuine despite knowing they were all fake (according to the feds). He is facing 5 counts of knowingly selling counterfeits to defraud and 1 count of mail fraud since he mailed one of them through the Post Office. The feds believe he defrauded collectors out of more than $80,000, and believe there are more victims than just these three people who bought those five fakes. If convicted on even one of the 5 counterfeit charges, the feds will seize ALL his coins and paper currency (about 3,100 pieces total); In addition, he could be fined, serve a max sentence of 15 years, or both. Collectors Universe previously won a default judgement against him for selling other Seated Liberty cointerfeits in counterfeit PCGS slabs a few years ago. His company was called the "Burnsville Coin Company" and also had a display stand at an antique shop in Stillwater, Minnesota. Here is the link to the story https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/burnsville-coin-dealer-indicted-fraud-scheme Yet another reason why you need to keep records of what you buy and from whom!
The sad part is that many will not even know they are victims until they badly need the money a very long time from now.
I've always felt that if I had a hobby, I would need to keep-up-with-the-times so to speak and join the various clubs or organizations that will help educate me and notify me of who's doing what and where and when !
I actually lived in Burnsville when I was younger. Though I don’t have an eidetic memory, I am virtually 100% positive I went into his coin shop off of I-35. I remember not being able to afford much as he dealt in mid-range and above coins. My $50 didn’t really have a place in his shop. Not really relevant but kind of crazy to see nonetheless.
I think the max sentence (prison time) would be way too hard. Second degree murder is about 20-25 years, right?
For Minnesota 2nd degree has a max of 40 years. Third Degree is a max of 25 years and they have a bunch of triggers that can make the max sentence mandatory
