TYLER, TEXAS – James Leroy Frattarola, 47, of Longview, Texas, is facing a hefty prison sentence after pleading guilty to a brazen scheme involving counterfeit silver bars. The con man admitted in federal court to possessing and attempting to pass off fake precious metals as genuine, leaving a trail of nine victims in his wake.
According to court documents, on September 13, 2013, Frattarola was caught with approximately 90 one-ounce silver bars stamped with the markings of the “NORTHWEST TERRITORIAL MINT” and falsely labeled “.999 FINE SILVER.” This wasn’t a one-time stunt; prosecutors revealed Frattarola engaged in this criminal activity on multiple occasions, systematically defrauding individuals across the region.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Longview Police Department, Kingsville Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service, uncovered a pattern of deceit. Frattarola was originally indicted by a federal grand jury on October 23, 2013, but the case dragged on until today’s guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.
The damage is significant. Frattarola now faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Beyond incarceration, he’s been ordered to forfeit all the seized counterfeit silver bars and over 100 fake coins. But the court didn’t stop there. Frattarola will also be forced to pay restitution totaling $28,720.40, to be divided amongst his nine victims – a small consolation for being swindled.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the seriousness of the offense. “This type of fraud undermines public trust and causes real financial harm to those targeted,” Noble stated. The sentencing date remains to be set, but Frattarola’s days of peddling fake silver are, for now, over.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly ‘small’ fraud schemes carry serious federal consequences, and law enforcement agencies are increasingly focused on cracking down on counterfeit operations.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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