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Gold Expert Mike Fuljenz Speaks to Police Agencies on Numismatic Crimes

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(Beaumont, Texas) -- Sandwiched between receiving an award, autographing copies of his book and purchasing gold coins to fulfill his customers' orders, America's Gold Expert® , Michael Fuljenz, recently was a keynote speaker at a special training course for Texas law enforcement personnel on the topic of investigating crimes involving rare coins, bullion and jewelry.
Fuljenz provided seminar participants with information on where they can promptly get assistance.

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FBI: Conman hired hitmen to torture, kill judge

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By John Marzulli
Daily News

A convicted conman tried to hire hitmen to kill and decapitate the judge and prosecutor who put him away for 15 years — offering a bonus if the killers kept the heads in formaldehyde as souvenirs, authorities said Tuesday.

Joseph Romano wasn’t shy about his plans, telling a federal informant that he wanted to torture Judge Joseph Bianco and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Gatz before they were whacked.

"Romano requested that the heads of both the judge and the (prosecutor) be preserved in formaldehyde as souvenirs," FBI special agent Reynaldo Tariche stated in a complaint.

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Evanston coin dealer accused of buying stolen goods

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By Brian L. Cox
Special to the Chicago Tribune

An Evanston rare coin dealer who was allegedly recorded buying thousands of dollars in stolen coins, jewelry, watches and other valuables from undercover police posing as burglars has been charged with multiple felonies, authorities said today.

Arrested on Tuesday, James Coello, 47, of Chicago, today was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bail following a joint investigation by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office and Evanston police, said authorities.

Coello, who owns and operates North Shore Coins at 1501 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, has been charged with one felony count each of theft, organizing a financial crimes enterprise and continuing a financial crimes enterprise, authorities said.

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Mike Fuljenz Comments on Counterfeit Gold Bars Discovered in New York City

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By Vignesh Ramachandran and NBC News

New York News | NYC Breaking News

The issue of counterfeit gold is re-emerging after a reputable merchant in Manhattan discovered he'd bought $100,000 worth of fake gold bars, WNYW reported. When merchant Ibrahim Fadl drilled into several of the gold bars he'd bought from a regular source, he discovered they were actually filled with gray tungsten.

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Warning from the Numismatic Crime Information Center: Fraudulent Bullion Purchases

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During the past ten days we have received information from dealers receiving request for gold bullion purchases. This activity had slowed for several months but appears to have started up once again.

The suspects are using different names and addresses. They also want to send cashier's checks and the gold sent by express mail. One dealer received a bogus cashier’s check and is out $15,000.

The emails received are written with broken English in the body of the text. Suspects are wanting quick responses, payment via cashier's check and purchase sent express mail. Dealers who have received phone calls have indicated the subjects are of foreign nationality. These are red flags!!

Dealers should use extreme caution and screen thoroughly before completing any transaction.

Doug Davis
Founder/President
Numismatic Crime Information Center

ICTA Board of Directors Member Mike Fuljenz Goes to Washington to Support the Collectible Coin Protection Act

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Mike Fuljenz with Rep Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Rep Jimmy Hayes (R-LA)
Mike Fuljenz with Rep Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Rep Jimmy Hayes (R-LA)

I am urging coin collectors and investors nationwide to promptly contact their Congressional representatives in support of the recently introduced Collectible Coin Protection Act (HR5977).

I was among a half dozen of the country's numismatic leaders who met in Washington, DC on June 28, 2012 with Congressional leaders and staff members to discuss the importance of the proposed legislation to protect the public.

The bill was introduced on June 20, 2012 by co-sponsors Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Michigan), Chairman of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. (It has bipartisan support). HR5977 will strengthen the 39-year old Hobby Protection Act, a law that helps combat counterfeits. We need to bring that law into the 21st century because of new issues that were not even contemplated decades ago.

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