A 32-year-old Rochester, N.Y. man was recently charged with fraudulently selling counterfeit coins, according to a statement issued last month by Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.
Timothy Meacham is accused of selling two fake gold coins for $5,000 USD to a Pennsylvania man who contacted Meacham before travelling to Rochester on May 15, at which time the victim paid the sum in cash.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, who is handling the case, Meacham posted an ad on Craigslist advertising the sale of two genuine U.S. gold collector coins. The defendant used a false name and concealed his phone number in the ad in order to hide his identity.
VICTIM CONTACTED SECRET SERVICE
As part of the fraud, Meacham falsely represented that the coins were authentic and had been passed to Meacham from his deceased grandfather, Rossi said. Meacham also falsely represented that he needed to sell the coins in order to pay for funeral expenses related the unexpected death of a family member. Upon his return to Pennsylvania, the victim discovered that the coins were counterfeit and contacted the U.S. Secret Service in Rochester.
FIRST COURT APPEARANCE
On Aug. 21, Meacham made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was released on conditions.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Lewis Robinson.