An arrest warrant has been issued for a Maryland man accused of selling four fake trading cards in North Huntingdon, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.
Joel Carlos Brown, 21, received $15,000 in the scheme, according to information provided by the district attorney’s office. He is charged with theft by deception, receiving stolen property and simulating objects of antiquity or rarity.
The buyer reported the incident to township police in January, telling investigators he paid $15,000 through Facebook Marketplace for four cards he believed were rare, authorities said. The profile was under the name Eric Mercado. The cards are from the Japan-based collectible game One Piece Card Game.
After meeting with the seller Jan. 23 at Norwin Town Square, the buyer learned the cards were fake when he tried to resell them, authorities said. Subsequent attempts to contact the seller were unsuccessful.
Police determined the Eric Mercado account was linked to Brown. A search warrant for Brown’s cellphone indicated he was in North Huntingdon at the time of the transaction, authorities said.