Another victim of Gold Pro owner Michael James White’s alleged coin con reported that he lost more than $200,000.
An attorney for the Racine, Wisconsin residents notified The Examiner earlier this week and stated his client was scammed out of $208,000.
With upwards of 100 victims claiming over $1 million in losses to White, the victims will collectively share cross-country prosecution of the man they say bilked them of their life savings.
A confluence of complaints posed to the Beaumont police, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, and The Examiner from across the nation have detailed a pattern recorded, perhaps first, at the local BBB (Better Business Bureau).
The BBB’s file for Gold Pro LLC contains a pattern of complaints in which consumers allege delivery, refund, customer service and service issues, according to information from the 110-year-old marketplace supervisors.
Customers allege they paid in full for products that have not been received at all or delivered in a timely manner, failure of the business to provide promised package tracking numbers and failure to honor promised refunds,” a statement from the BBB regarding Gold Pro read as of 2022.
They also noted the business failed to respond to their calls and that Gold Pro LLC’s website has been removed. A new business name and website with the same business phone number was discovered.
According to the BBB, complaints on White date back to 2019. Even as White was subjected to criminal probes and indictments, customers alleged White never ceased the con game. Complainants further allege that White delivered a combination of excuses, silence and, in one case, two 40-pound dumbbells instead of the $90,000 in coins ordered.
A few more customers reported their precious metals were fakes or never came at all, while others complained that their shipment was only sent after months of delays and eventual calls to authorities.
According to Jefferson County prosecutor Bobby Ortego, the federal government will pick up the White prosecution henceforth, adding it to other similar allegations against the defendant already under their auspices.
A review of the federal filing system did not reveal an indictment for White as of press time.
According to what former Beaumont Police Department detective and current BBB Southeast Texas investigator Lisa Jardine knows of the investigation, an indictment could be extensive given the sheer number of complainants.
At the local nonprofit BBB, there were 43 complaining victims – and the feds reportedly are in receipt of more.
Those who have suffered losses or who have been victims of White’s business may contact The Examiner at (409) 832-1400 or the BBB at (409) 835-5348.
— Dannie Oliveaux, Staff Reporter