We will continue to present the hobby's most extensive coverage of this investigation and other investigations online at www.sweetspotnews.com and in the July/July edition and future issues of Sweet Spot. Don't miss any of the coverage. Subscribe today.

Forgers made out like bandits

The group of forgers busted in the recent Operation Bullpen sting probably made "well over $2 million a year" for their work, the FBI has told sweetspotnews.com. Tim Fitzsimmons, agent in charge of Operation Bullpen in San Diego, made the estimate based on the total amount of autographed memorabilia seized during the 2 and 1/2 year undercover operation. During that time, an estimated $10 million worth of memorabilia was seized, beginning Sept. 13, 1999, when more than 50 search warrants were executed in a handful of states, from California to New Jersey.

Among the forgers, Fitzsimmons said that Greg Marino was the primary forger. Others were Angelo Morino, Mike Moses, Mike Lopez, David Tabb and Richard Mitchell, all of California.

Since the FBI unveiled details of Operation Bullpen April 12, the agency has received numerous phone calls, mainly "customer complaint" types of calls from people wanting to discuss recourse. "People have called saying they think they bought something from one of the defendants," Fitzsimmons said. "Unfortunately, there's not a lot we can do. They can still try to go back to the people who sold them the items."

Such an option would seem imposible to fathom. When told of such an option, one dealer laughed long and loud. Fitzsimmons, though, said, "A lot of the people who have had information filed against them are making some of the returns. Returns and refunds are being made." The items are thn being turned into Operation Bullpen as evidence. "It's understood that part of their cooperation to right the ship that went the wrong way is handling these requests as best as they can," Fitzsimmons said. Asked if the consumers contacting the dealer defendants or are the dealer defendants seeking out consumers, Fitzsimmons said, "Both. They are actually seeking out sources and sources are finding them. Things they are 100 percent certain about, where a shipment can be documented . . . are things that are being handled."

Meanwhile, the start date for the pleabargaining for the 20 defendants will begin May 2 before Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz in the Southern District Court of California. Judge Moskowitz will hear the government and defense counsel explain the agreement. The judge will ask questions to verify that this is what all parties want to do. A sentencing date will be set for the defendants. Since there are 20 defendants in this latest phase of Operation Bullpen the pleabargaining sessions will likely extend beyond May 2, Fitzsimmons said. The infractions by the 20 defendants include mail fraud, wire fraud, racketeering, money laundering, trafficking in counterfeit goods, tax offenses and conspiracy, which are detailed in sections of Title 18 or Title 26 of the U.S. Code. Juanita Brooks, Greg Marino's attorney, told the San Diego Union Tribune that her client was looking at 40 months in prison.

Fitzsimmon said he expected Operation Bullpen and other such efforts to yield further arrests. He acknowledged that the effort from Operaton Foul Ball in Chicago was instrumental in the Bullpen effort. He added that one of the most climactic moments of the operation took place Sept. 13, when more than 50 search warrants in various states were executing search warrants. "I was in a conference room as hundreds of agents began searching multiple sites," Fitzsimmons said. "It was a big organizing task. It was interesting as we would get reports. Their (defendants') reactions were that there was this ligh level of cooperation. We knew we were going to get a ton of memorabilia. What we didn't know is how they'd react. We got a lot of cooperation." While agents seized $10 million during their raids, the front operation that was set up to do business with the perpetrators, Nihon Trading Company, purchased more than $200,000 worth of evidence.