Card Sharks: Curcio & Bondarchuk Hit With $2M Fraud Charge

NEW YORK, NY – Two men are facing federal charges after allegedly running a nationwide scam to dupe collectors into paying inflated prices for low-grade sports and Pokémon trading cards. Anthony Curcio, also known as “Brendan Wooley,” and Iosif Bondarchuk, also known as “Joe Bondarchuk,” were arrested this morning and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in the Southern District of New York.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that Curcio and Bondarchuk falsely claimed that lower-quality cards had received high-grade ratings from a reputable card authentication company – referred to as “Company-1” in court documents. This deception allowed them to sell the cards for significantly more money than they were actually worth, racking up over $2 million in fraudulent and attempted sales. The pair are expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Washington today.

“As alleged, Anthony Curcio and Iosif Bondarchuk carried out a brazen, nationwide fraud scheme…to deceive buyers and marketplaces,” stated U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “Curcio and Bondarchuk allegedly sold and tried to sell at inflated prices cards of various professional athletes, including, among others, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Nolan Ryan, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, and Magic Johnson, as well as various valuable Pokémon cards.” Williams emphasized that the alleged scheme has “had its last dance,” vowing to bring to justice anyone who attempts to defraud the public.

The indictment details a scheme that spanned from at least 2022 to May 2024. Curcio and Bondarchuk targeted victims across the country, exploiting the card market’s reliance on professional grading. Company-1, a leading authenticator, assigns cards a grade from 1 to 10, with higher grades commanding exponentially higher prices. The fraudsters allegedly misrepresented the grades of cards, often sealing them in cases *mimicking* Company-1’s tamper-resistant packaging to further the deception. As an example, a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 rookie card graded an 8 typically fetches between $6,000 and $7,000; the indictment suggests the pair were selling misrepresented cards at similar inflated prices.

“For over two years, Anthony Curcio and Joe Bondarchuk allegedly manipulated common-level trading cards to fraudulently inflate the retail price,” explained 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.” Smith stressed the FBI’s commitment to investigating fraudulent behavior and protecting consumers.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. If convicted, Curcio and Bondarchuk face serious federal prison time. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops, bringing you the dirt on this alleged scheme and the consequences faced by these two alleged card sharks.