SEATTLE — Two men from Washington were arrested for allegedly defrauding customers of over $2 million in sales of fake sports and Pokémon trading cards, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Anthony Curcio, a 43-year-old man from Redmond, and Iosif Bondarchuk, a 37-year-old man from Lake Stevens, are charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“As alleged, Anthony Curcio and Iosif Bondarchuk carried out a brazen, nationwide fraud scheme involving valuable sports and Pokémon trading cards to deceive buyers and marketplaces, ultimately amassing over $2 million in fraudulent and attempted sales,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
The two allegedly created a scheme to defraud buyers and marketplaces to purchase sports and Pokémon trading cards at higher, fake prices by misrepresenting the cards’ actual authentic value grade. They reportedly sold the cards in-person, at card shows and online.
Trading cards are rated based on condition and authenticity; higher ratings mean higher value.
Since 2022, the two men faked the presentation and inflated the prices of professional athlete and Pokémon trading cards to people across the country, officials said. The attorney's office estimates the total cost of sales and attempted sales is over $2 million.
In July 2023, an undercover law enforcement officer purchased a “fraudulently misrepresented” 1999 Pokémon Venusaur card for $10,500. Bondarchuk reportedly had attempted to sell the card before on an online marketplace, according to the Department of Justice. Curcio mailed the card to the undercover officer and it was discovered the payment was wired to a bank account controlled by Curcio.
Curcio and Bondarchuk were arrested on Thursday and will face a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Washington.
“For over two years, Anthony Curcio and Joe Bondarchuk allegedly manipulated common-level trading cards to fraudulently inflate the retail price from its true market value by assigning false validity grades, resulting in more than $2 million in victim losses,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith. “This alleged scheme not only damages the reputation of a respectable authentication company, but the defendants’ alleged actions also betray the trust and wallets of avid collectors.”
