An aspiringPokémoncard trader ’s potentially moneymaking career was prune short as he has been chance guilty and condemn to three years in federal prison . The man was halt just last decline under suspicion that he defrauded the government toacquire a rarified CharizardPokémoncard .

This tale of scheming get when a   Georgia man named Vinath Oudomsine , owner of a little business , applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan . The grounds this loanword was grant : Oudomsine ’s business enterprise was reportedly negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and like so many other minuscule stage business owners , he postulate economic financial backing . The loanword amounted to $ 85,000 , but it seemed to have a somewhat negligible effect on Oudomsine ’s business . As it turned out , he used over $ 57,000 of that loanword to purchase a first - edition , shadowless Charizard with a 9.5 mint rating ( which is very mellow ) . While new , well - maintained cards like those issue in thePokémonCelebrationsexpansion can be quite uncommon , first - edition card are typically some of the most expensive on the market .

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Rather than turning a net and spending his remuneration to queer himself , however , Oudomsine will be spending three years in a Union pen for fraud . AsPolygonreports , Oudomsine will be ask to make up a   mulct of $ 10,000 in addition to his three - year sentence , and will remain under " supervised release " for another three years once his preliminary sentence is served . The courts also demanded that he surrender thePokémoncard to the prosecutor , to which he complied .

While Oudomsine ’s destiny could arguably have been altered with the aid of some improved decision - making skills , there are some   who may   have some sympathy for him and his current situation . Unlike moreviolentPokémoncard purchasers , Oudomsine did n’t physically bruise anyone to obtain this sought after card . From this standpoint , a fine of $ 10,000 and a three - yr prison condemnation might appear to be too harsh .   Then again , the money Oudomsine was granted could have move to another small business organization owner who could have used it for its destine purpose .

In any case , the investment firm were distinctly meant to help businesses endure an unbelievably hard economical period , not for the enrichment or pleasure of an individual . Whether   Oudomsine was   try too harshly for his crime may be up for debate , but it ’s intemperate to contend that penalisation is undeserved . One example can be harvest from this floor : a government loan should n’t serve as financial support for a rarePokémoncard .

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informant : Polygon

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