Florida coin dealer gets 5-year prison sentence for eBay fraud
A rare coin dealer has been sentenced to more than five years in prison after admitting he defrauded more than a million dollars from more than 100 people who bought collectibles from him on the e-Bay online auction site.
Martin Eugene Haber pleaded guilty in June to six counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. Another hearing is scheduled January fourth to determine restitution for 100 victims of Haber's fraud.
Prosecutors say 188 complaints were received from May 2001 to January 2005 from buyers who did not receive coins they purchased on e-Bay from Haber. Haber was twice arrested locally but continued to sell items under other names.
Haber says he got deeply into debt and was taking prescription drugs to combat depression when he began committing the crimes. He apologized to the victims and promised to repay them if possible.