According to reports from the New York Daily News and Fox News Chicago, Federal agents made rounds over the weekend at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, Illinois. The reports state that agents spent a considerable amount of time questioning employees of PSA and Mastro Auctions. A member of the Mastro booth had nothing to say when questioned by a Fox News reporter.

According to the reports, the agents handed out subpoenas and questioned individuals in anticipation of presenting a case before a grand jury. At this point one can only speculate as to what charged might be brought and against whom, but when such names as PSA and Mastro are involved, such an event would surely shake up the collecting world.

According to the New York Daily News, one person questioned was “a former Mastro Auctions employee who is known to be a “card doctor,” somebody who fixes dog-eared corners, removes stains, flattens out creases or takes other steps to improve the appearance of trading cards.”

Based on that and the interviewing of the PSA people, it’s possible that the feds are investigating card-doctoring and the grading of cards despite having knowledge that such cards are doctored (check out the book The Card regarding these kind of allegations relating to the Gretzky Honus Wagner which was graded PSA 8). However, rumors have been circulating that they are also looking into shill bidding by auction houses and doctoring “game-used” items to sell them as something other than what they actually are.

This is clearly at a somewhat preliminary stage, but down the road this information the FBI is gathering is going to be used towards some end, and it is likely going to create some big waves among the hobby community.

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