Vintage Poster Scandal Update: Judge Sentences Kerry Haggard to over 6 years in Federal Prison and Orders to Pay $1,380,000 in Restitution to Victims

This is an update to the ongoing series of articles into various claims and charges of fraud in the posters, one sheets, and lobby cards art market that have rocked the collectibles industry over the past two and a half years. Today, per reports from Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, the Athens Banner-Herald, and other mainstream media sources, Kerry Haggard was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon to six years and six months in federal prison.  The court also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.38 million dollars. Read more

Judge Sentences eBay Entertainment Memorabilia Dealer to over 8 years in Federal Prison and Orders to Pay Nearly $175,000 in Restitution to Victims

As reported on last year (see “eBay Entertainment Memorabilia Dealer Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges in U.S. District Court“), eBay entertainment memorabilia dealer David Bruce Shyrock plead guilty to fraud charges in federal after defrauding over 1,200 eBay users out of nearly $175,000 by selling memorabilia with forged autographs on the popular online auction website.  Today, the Joplin, Missouri man was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole.  The court also ordered Shyrock to pay $174,894 in restitution to his victims.  Read more

FBI Press Release: “Three Men Plead Guilty to Fraud Involving Sports Memorabilia”

As reported by various mainstream media outlets this week (New York Daily News original report, NY Daily News follow-up, Forbes, WREX-13), several memorabilia dealers plead guilty this week to fraud charges related to the sale of “game worn” sports jerseys.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 2012, and each maul fraud charge has a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fines.  Though a different class of memorabilia from television and film, it is always encouraging to see the FBI direct attention to any sort of memorabilia fraud, as it is very prevalent in all collecting areas. Read more

TMZ Reports on Cease & Desist Sent to Profiles in History Over “Rocky” Boxing Gloves; Sylvester Stallone Claims They Are Not Authentic

TMZ today reports that auction house Profiles in History have been sent a letter by Lavely & Singer, litigation counsel for Sylvester Stallone, regarding Lot 1069 from their “Hollywood Auction 44″ catalog, published yesterday.  Per the report and copy of the letter published by TMZ, Stallone’s attorney claims that the “pair of screen-used Sylvester Stallone ‘Rocky Balboa’ boxing gloves” attributed to Rocky (1976) are not authentic.  TMZ also reports that a Profiles in History “rep tells us the company is VERY confident the gloves are legit“. Read more

Salt Lake Tribune Details Role of BYU in Cecil B. DeMille ‘Ten Commandments’ Film Archive, Contribution to Blu-Ray Release

An article published in today’s Salt Lake Tribune provides a history of Bringham Young University’s role in preserving an incredible archive of production material from Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments (1956), as well as the role of Utahns who were involved with the film and the famed director’s respect for their reception of his classic film.  Read more

London Evening Standard Feature Highlights Work and History of Jonathan Sands and the London Film Museum

Jonathan Sands and the London Film Museum which he manages is the subject of a very significant article in today’s London Evening Standard.  The UK mainstream media have now published two substantive articles in as many days, the other highlighted yesterday (see Holly Haber and Lennard Billin of Reel Clothes & Props Featured in UK’s Daily Mail Article). Read more

Holly Haber and Lennard Billin of Reel Clothes & Props Featured in UK’s Daily Mail Article

Owners Holly Haber and Lennard Billin and their business, Reel Clothes & Props, are featured in an extensive article published in print and online in today’s Daily Mail out of the UK.  The publication, which has a fondness for celebrities, focuses on what kind of wardrobe material the retail outlet offers and goes into specifics of how it relates to various Hollywood actors and actresses, as well as providing a primer on the notion of values and investment. Read more

Story About Prop Masters on National Public Radio (NPR) Academy Awards Feature

National Public Radio (NPR) has broadcast a radio feature about the world of the prop master, talking with principals from History for Hire, ISS Props, and The Handprop Room and others. Read more

Jalopnik Challenges Authenticity of “JFK Ambulance”; Barrett-Jackson Sells Vehicle for $132,000 at Auction

While not about original props and costumes from movies or television, this story is of interest in that it involves a public auction and public challenges over the authenticity of a high value item offered for sale – an ambulance said to have carried the body of President John F. Kennedy following his assassination in 1963 (Barrett-Jackson Lot: 1277 – 1963 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE AMBULANCE).  Read more

Debbie Reynolds’ “Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum” Update – Collection ‘Likely’ To Be Sold At Auction

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that it is “likely” that the collection of memorabilia planned to be showcased in Debbie Reynolds’ Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum will be sold at auction.  Read more

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