(Coingate) Noe's Partner Said He Gave Investigator Bogus Documents

[LiberalHeart]

TOLEDO (AP) -- A state investigator says Tom Noe's business partner misled investigators when they tried to verify the whereabouts of coins bought by the state. The investigator says Noe's partner, Timothy LaPointe, said he gave them fake documents that said the coins were accounted for.

http://wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=5213125

[Judi Lynn]

1. Thanks for this news. I found a little more:

~snip~

Fisher's testimony came on the second day of a hearing to determine whether a judge should throw out evidence seized during a raid of Noe's coin business. Noe's lawyers also want Lucas County Judge Thomas Osowik to dismiss and consolidate some of the charges against him.

Noe has pleaded not guilty to theft, forgery, money laundering and racketeering charges related to the investment in rare coins he managed for the state. The 53-count indictment accuses Noe of stealing at least $1 million.

LaPointe is charged with engaging in corrupt activity and six counts of tampering with records. He has pleaded not guilty.

Fisher said Noe knew at least a day or two in advance that he would making a spot check of the coin inventory at Noe's store in suburban Toledo. "It wasn't a surprise visit," Fisher said.

He said Noe gave them everything they needed and was cooperative. Fisher also said that during the first visit on April 29 he asked Noe about a bunch of Beanie Babies in the store.

Noe told Fisher the state did not own any of the Beanie Babies or sport collectibles.

Investigators now say state money was used to buy artwork and other collectibles, including Beanie Babies, sports cards and autographs.
(snip/...)

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/15148275.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An older, but pleasant story:

Noe indicted in coin scandal
53 felony counts carry possible sentence of 175 years in prison
By Mark Niquette
The Columbus Dispatch
Monday, February 13, 2006

Associated Press

TOLEDO -- Thomas W. Noe, the coin dealer and prominent Republican contributor whose $50 million state coin investment sparked one of the biggest scandals in Ohio state government history, was indicted today on 53 felonies, including theft of more than $1 million.

The charges include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, 11 counts of theft, 11 of money laundering, 8 of tampering with records and 22 of forgery. He could be sentenced to a maximum 175 years in prison, although such a sentence is considered unlikely.

However, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said Noe faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years behind bars if he is convicted of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony patterned after the federal racketeering law often used against suspected mobsters.

Also indicted in the scheme was Timothy H. LaPointe, Noe's partner in the coin business, who was named in seven counts. He was charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt acitivity and six counts of tampering with records, said the indictment filed in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.
(snip/...)

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=166155

[LiberalHeart]

2. I had totally forgotten LaPointe was charged....

Here's a link to a bunch of Noe stories:

http://www.wtol.com/Global/category.asp?C=66204

I was looking for a video link, but didn't see one. I know this site has run video of him, though. Maybe if you explore it you'll find some.