Customers' coffers left bereft amid million-dollar theft

An ongoing investigation by The Examiner into an alleged Beaumont coin conman and owner of Gold Pro LLC has uncovered more than $1 million worth of fraud claims springing from nearly every corner of the country.

Amid indictments, court appearances and multiple investigations – including an FBI probe – Michael James White, 34, has continued to steal from customers who believe they’re buying coins and precious metals, according to patrons of the Beaumont-based pecuniary profiteer who called the paper from around the country after reading about White in pages of The Examiner. Court coordinators have scheduled White’s next court date for Nov. 14, and those interested may view proceedings live via a link posted with this story at theexaminer.com.

“The defendants are national actors in the coin market, which, along with their deceptive dealings with (the victim), supports (his) contention that their conduct is capable of repetition and, therefore, impacts on the public interest,” reads a 2020 judgment by 13th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Perry Gravely of South Carolina ordering White to repay a customer there $487,331.18.

The judge’s words proved prophetic, according to a collection of White’s subsequent customers-turned victims.

“I can’t believe his website is up and he’s still in business,” said Jacksonville, Florida, resident Larry Collier, who told The Examiner in September that White robbed him of just over $25,000 from a May 13 order. “I got an invoice that said it would ship within seven to 10 business days. I reached out on May 26, and then again on June 3, and then again on June 6. He finally just threw some stuff in a box and shipped it to me.” Collier believes White just hoped to appease and quiet his complaining customer.

“It was a $25,300 order for half gold and half silver coins,” he explained. “He gave me run-around after run-around after run-around, and, eventually, after about a month, he sent me some silver coins. They weren’t what I ordered; they were less than what I ordered. And my gold wasn’t included.

Collier told The Examiner he got a call from the FBI in July, saying they’ve opened an investigation into White and Gold Pro, adding, “I was told I’d get a call within two weeks from our local agent here in Florida to get my statement, and it’s been two-and-a-half months.”

Collier’s comments mirrored what multiple sources have told The Examiner, that FBI offices around the country, including Beaumont, have been investigating White for months. When contacted on the matter, FBI representatives told the paper it’s against policy to comment on – or even acknowledge – open investigations.

Million-dollar metal meddling

As revealed in past publications, the paper found approximately $461,005 worth of theft complaints via information requests to the Attorney General, as well as sifting through Better Business Bureau information and Jefferson County grand jury indictments. Delving through dozens of documents detailing White’s business deals revealed proof that Gold Pro LLC – formerly Big Thicket Coin and Bullion – sent one Colorado customer a pair of 40-pound dumbbells instead of the $90,000 worth of coins he ordered. One Jacksonville, Florida, customer complained to the Texas Attorney General that White had taken $200,000 from her, leaving the woman to lament, “I have had many sleepless nights and have to stay healthy to take care of my husband.”

Further investigation into White’s business practices uncovered an additional approximated $1,034,784.69 White reportedly owes to customers who say they were robbed, bringing the metal merchant’s stolen total to $1,495,789.69.

The largest chunk of White’s alleged fraudulent behavior stems from a $487,331.18 judgment ordered by 13th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Perry Gravely in favor of Herman E. Cox, a retired lawyer out of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The judgment, filed against Big Thicket Coin and Bullion operators Richard Thibideau and Michael White, calls for the duo to pay $161,331.30 in actual damages. The judgement was trebled pursuant to the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices act to $483,993.90, plus $457.28 in taxable costs and $2,880 in attorney’s fees.

According to the 21-page document outlining the civil litigation, Cox brought this action against White and Thibideau alleging that he consigned valuable coins to them for sale before the defendants either sold the coins or absconded with them – in breach of their agreement. The documents say White and Thibideau never showed for a January 2020 hearing when they were called to testify.

“The Court further finds that, based on Cox’s testimony, Defendant White and his alter ego Big Thicket engaged in unfair and deceptive conduct of the sort which has been declared unlawful. White’s promises to make payments, the small payment made ($5,000) to discourage Cox from taking action to recover his coins, and a further promise, as alleged in Cox’s complaint, that a check had been sent after the sale of coins all constitute deceptive acts or conduct.”

Another apparent theft incident revealed in a search through Jefferson County Clerk documents says that a Tarrant County court ordered White in July 2021 to pay Noble Funding Group LLC $147,990.

“We’re not trying to be the best precious metals company, we are the best,” reads a line on Gold Pro LLC’s website with which customers vehemently disagree.

Describing an array of lies and ignored phone calls dating from March to June, eight unsatisfied customers told the local BBB branch that White had stolen a combined $297,163.51 from them. Less than a year prior, a Jefferson County grand jury indicted White in September 2021 for allegedly stealing $247,822 from three sources in a span of six months. According to White’s attorney, Dustin Galmor, the defendant paid two of the complainants back before either case could make it to trial. However, restitution only came after the alleged fraudster White’s September 2021 arrest, when Beaumont police officers detained the man on three counts of felony theft and captured him donning a smile in his mugshot.

“With our staff literally picking every coin we sell, only picking the best-looking coins available graded by PCGS or NGC, you’re sure to get the best on the open market. We’ve won multiple categories by both grading services for having the top registered sets in multiple categories.”

However, upon a search of both PCGS and NGC award databases, The Examiner found no record of White – or his companies – winning anything at all.

“Unfortunately, we aren’t processing any new orders until we can fulfill our current obligations, which, as many of you know, are being held up in the court systems,” reads a statement on White’s website. “We understand the chaos and frustration this has caused. For those we need to get funds/metals to who are mad or scared, we are sorry that this situation has occurred, and we understand the emotions that can come with that.

“Please know we are taking every step possible to resolve this quickly. Still, unfortunately, we’re at the mercy of the New York and Texas court systems. If you have any suggestions, know of a way to help, or would like an update on where we are in the process, feel free to contact us at Info@goldpro.com. Thank you all, and we look forward to the day we speak about the hard times back when.”

White failed to return calls for comment by The Examiner Oct. 19.

For past coverage on White, follow the links below.

Trial looms for pecuniary profiteer-turned coin con artist

Precious metal patrons claim Gold Pro pilfering persists

B. Scott McLendon is a staff writer in his fourth year in Beaumont. Contact Scott with questions, comments and story ideas by calling (334) 482-2801, emailing scott@theexaminer.com or visiting The Examiner at 795 Willow Street in Downtown Beaumont.