Anthony Chiofalo sentenced to 40 years for embezzlement

[markseifert]

I'm sure many of you remember the strange saga of Anthony Chiofalo. If you search the forum on that name you'll find quite a bit about the matter. He purchased the census-topping Batman #1 CGC 9.2 for $850,000 in May 2012, as well as an Action Comics #1 CGC 3.0, and numerous other comics. It was later discovered he was using embezzled funds to do so.

 

In another bizarre twist, a DA's investigator on the case took some of the comics from storage and sold them at Wizard World Chicago that year. Dealers became suspicious and contacted Heritage who in turn contacted authorities.

 

The comics were recovered and auctioned by Heritage with the note "Auctioned on behalf of Tadano America Corporation" last August.

 

In any case, Chiofalo was just sentenced to 40 years in prison.

 

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Disbarred-lawyer-who-stole-9-million-sentenced-5454335.php#photo-4144319

 

 

[Gotham Kid]

karma's a biatch !

[comicnoir]

Yes I won a Tadano book. Some nice deals. I hope it's not cursed.

[Silver Surfer]

Wow 40 years. He could have shot someone and probably would only get 4 years.

[Vision75]

If you're going to embezzle......jk

[Sqeggs]

I'm sure many of you remember the strange saga of Anthony Chiofalo. If you search the forum on that name you'll find quite a bit about the matter. He purchased the census-topping Batman #1 CGC 9.2 for $850,000 in May 2012, as well as an Action Comics #1 CGC 3.0, and numerous other comics. It was later discovered he was using embezzled funds to do so.

 

In another bizarre twist, a DA's investigator on the case took some of the comics from storage and sold them at Wizard World Chicago that year. Dealers became suspicious and contacted Heritage who in turn contacted authorities.

 

The comics were recovered and auctioned by Heritage with the note "Auctioned on behalf of Tadano America Corporation" last August.

 

In any case, Chiofalo was just sentenced to 40 years in prison.

 

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Disbarred-lawyer-who-stole-9-million-sentenced-5454335.php#photo-4144319

 

 

Thanks for the update. Fascinating case. Do you know if all the books the DA's investigator stole were recovered?

 

As in many of these cases, you shake your head because the chances of either Chiofalo or the investigator getting away with it seems minuscule.

[Tri-Color Brian]

The weed of crime bears bitter fruit...the Shadow KNOWS...Hahahahahahahahahahaha....

and I thought there were problem people in the reptile hobby...wow...

 

[Silver Surfer]

Yes I won a Tadano book. Some nice deals. I hope it's not cursed.

 

He paid some stupid prices for some books but where did those under bidders go the second time around?

[batman_fan]

Wonder how long till he looks like this

 

[markseifert]

Do you know if all the books the DA's investigator stole were recovered?

 

Not sure, but never heard about anything not recovered.

 

He paid some stupid prices for some books but where did those under bidders go the second time around?

 

A significant portion of the most major stuff was not at auction, but essentially seemed to be make an offer to the owner. When all this was starting to be rumored that summer, you could go through the Heritage archives for the time frame in question and make a pretty good guess as to what some of his purchases were (very big $$$$ books sold in a pretty tight window that spring, but not at auction, and sometimes not long after they had been auctioned publicly).

[The_SandMan]

Heck, I'm still waiting to hear what will happen to Rico Vendetti, the mastermind behind the GA comic theft that led to the death of an old mentally challenged guy in Medina NY in 2010. Seems like something similar to that movie "Comic Book Villains"

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH! UPDATE! on Rico Vendetti comic book theft

 

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_a01f5870-c1ee-11e3-9d33-001a4bcf887a.html

[VintageComics]

Wow 40 years. He could have shot someone and probably would only get 4 years.

 

I believe he was a lawyer wasn't he?

 

Being involved in law enforcement and committing a crime is probably frowned upon much worse. Also, the size of the crime would be taken into account. It would affect many, many people at $9MIL.

[Silver Surfer]

Wow 40 years. He could have shot someone and probably would only get 4 years.

 

I believe he was a lawyer wasn't he?

 

Being involved in law enforcement and committing a crime is probably frowned upon much worse. Also, the size of the crime would be taken into account. It would affect many, many people at $9MIL.

 

Oh I know and I hope the guy rots in prison but the term given vs some of the more serious crimes/sentences we see happening on a regular basis is a bit ridiculous.

[Sqeggs]

Heck, I'm still waiting to hear what will happen to Rico Vendetti, the mastermind behind the GA comic theft that led to the death of an old mentally challenged guy in Medina NY in 2010. Seems like something similar to that movie "Comic Book Villains"

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH! UPDATE! on Rico Vendetti comic book theft

 

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_a01f5870-c1ee-11e3-9d33-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Well, at least this last part was reassuring: "Vendetti remains in detention pending trial."

[goldust40]

Heck, I'm still waiting to hear what will happen to Rico Vendetti, the mastermind behind the GA comic theft that led to the death of an old mentally challenged guy in Medina NY in 2010. Seems like something similar to that movie "Comic Book Villains"

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH! UPDATE! on Rico Vendetti comic book theft

 

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_a01f5870-c1ee-11e3-9d33-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Well, at least this last part was reassuring: "Vendetti remains in detention pending trial."

 

I admit buying something from him via ebay a decade ago, give or take.

[The_SandMan]

Heck, I'm still waiting to hear what will happen to Rico Vendetti, the mastermind behind the GA comic theft that led to the death of an old mentally challenged guy in Medina NY in 2010. Seems like something similar to that movie "Comic Book Villains"

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH! UPDATE! on Rico Vendetti comic book theft

 

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_a01f5870-c1ee-11e3-9d33-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Well, at least this last part was reassuring: "Vendetti remains in detention pending trial."

 

I admit buying something from him via ebay a decade ago, give or take.

 

Well, you couldn't possibly have know he was an evil turd.

[goldust40]

Heck, I'm still waiting to hear what will happen to Rico Vendetti, the mastermind behind the GA comic theft that led to the death of an old mentally challenged guy in Medina NY in 2010. Seems like something similar to that movie "Comic Book Villains"

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH! UPDATE! on Rico Vendetti comic book theft

 

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_a01f5870-c1ee-11e3-9d33-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Well, at least this last part was reassuring: "Vendetti remains in detention pending trial."

 

I admit buying something from him via ebay a decade ago, give or take.

 

Well, you couldn't possibly have know he was an evil turd.

 

Correct - still odd that this should happen with someone I did business with, if only the once. I recall not being happy with the transaction and comms, and not buying from him again.

[tth2]

Heck, I'm still waiting to hear what will happen to Rico Vendetti, the mastermind behind the GA comic theft that led to the death of an old mentally challenged guy in Medina NY in 2010. Seems like something similar to that movie "Comic Book Villains"

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH! UPDATE! on Rico Vendetti comic book theft

 

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_a01f5870-c1ee-11e3-9d33-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Well, at least this last part was reassuring: "Vendetti remains in detention pending trial."

 

I admit buying something from him via ebay a decade ago, give or take.

J'accuse!!!

[goldust40]

Heck, I'm still waiting to hear what will happen to Rico Vendetti, the mastermind behind the GA comic theft that led to the death of an old mentally challenged guy in Medina NY in 2010. Seems like something similar to that movie "Comic Book Villains"

 

 

 

NEWSFLASH! UPDATE! on Rico Vendetti comic book theft

 

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_a01f5870-c1ee-11e3-9d33-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Well, at least this last part was reassuring: "Vendetti remains in detention pending trial."

 

I admit buying something from him via ebay a decade ago, give or take.

J'accuse!!!

 

It's a fair cop, but society is to blame.

[hockeyboy13]

I'm sure many of you remember the strange saga of Anthony Chiofalo. If you search the forum on that name you'll find quite a bit about the matter. He purchased the census-topping Batman #1 CGC 9.2 for $850,000 in May 2012, as well as an Action Comics #1 CGC 3.0, and numerous other comics. It was later discovered he was using embezzled funds to do so.

 

In another bizarre twist, a DA's investigator on the case took some of the comics from storage and sold them at Wizard World Chicago that year. Dealers became suspicious and contacted Heritage who in turn contacted authorities.

 

The comics were recovered and auctioned by Heritage with the note "Auctioned on behalf of Tadano America Corporation" last August.

 

In any case, Chiofalo was just sentenced to 40 years in prison.

 

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Disbarred-lawyer-who-stole-9-million-sentenced-5454335.php#photo-4144319

 

 

next time you see Doug or Josh from Comiclink..go thank them. they got the ball rolling