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Postal Inspectors Lick Counterfeit Stamp Ring
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ShareFebruary 28, 2007 10:23 AM
Authorities say they have shut down an underground printing operation in New York City that was producing thousands of high-quality counterfeit U.S. postage stamps.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says such operations are just a small part of a thriving black market in bogus stamps.
The busted printing operation was being run out of an apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Check out the excellent quality of the bogus stamps.
A raid on the facility, executed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the New York City Police Department, uncovered hundreds of coils and sheets of 39 cent self-adhesive "Lady Liberty Flag" stamps, authorities said. Investigators say they also found USPS wrappers complete with barcodes, computer software, industrial-sized cutting boards, three industrial printers and other professional printing supplies.
Authorities arrested and charged two individuals, Hector Silvestre and Magaly Pichado, with felony counts of forgery of a government instrument and possession of a forgery device.
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Authorities say the quality of the counterfeit stamps was excellent and that they were destined to be sold at cut rates on the Internet or at small grocery stores in New York.
According to investigators, Silvestre stated in a post-arrest interview that he had been able to produce up to 150 coils of 39 cent stamps a day, with 100 stamps in a coil. Silvestre also stated he was in the process of expanding his operation so that it could run 24/7 and produce over 300 coils a day, investigators said.
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Tom Boyle, Assistant Inspector in Charge of the New York office of the USPIS, said the investigation into counterfeit stamps was triggered after postal inspectors discovered that hundreds of letters were being rejected for delivery because the stamps lacked the required phosphor tagging. Boyle said the investigation has revealed that counterfeit stamps "are a growing, nationwide problem."
The financial loss to the USPS due to the New York operation was estimated at $300,000.
February 28, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (6)
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I wonder if any of these got out on the open market, or were used to send mail. If so, they will be highly sought after by collectors. Do you suppose there will be any further information on these?
Posted by: Allen Bohart | Mar 5, 2007 10:21:28 AM
Very reminiscent of the movie "catch me if you can".
Posted by: Don L. | Mar 6, 2007 3:46:59 PM
Yes, it says right in the article that "the investigation into counterfeit stamps was triggered after postal inspectors discovered that hundreds of letters were being rejected for delivery because the stamps lacked the required phosphor tagging".
Posted by: p | Mar 10, 2007 12:25:55 AM
I highly doubt that such stamps will be sought out by collectors; if they ARE, they could be in violation of the law themselves. These stamps are COUNTERFEIT, and just as illegal to own as counterfeit money.
This is different from the status that confederate money would bestow, as that money can not be mistaken for legal tender or US Currency. But these stamps CAN be used for actual use; even if collectors pay more than their face value, they still have the capability of defrauding the government.
Posted by: Michael | Jun 29, 2008 10:31:56 PM
is there a way that wd allow me to verify collectors stamps in collections are real
Posted by: navin chandaria | Dec 14, 2008 11:21:17 AM
can usps not do anything to protect collectors otherwise it will kill collectors stamp business of usps
Posted by: navin chandaria | Dec 14, 2008 11:25:58 AM
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