As many of you know, highly respected and well known pipe hobbyist Anthony Soderman (Mr. Can), is an attorney and has been working with law enforcement officials in the Houston, Texas area in the locating and capturing of pipe and tobacco scam artist Kyle Black. I, along with some other hobbyists, received the following email from Tony last night. I have had to delete a few details to protect the names of law enforcement officials who have been working undercover. Although we probably won't be rid of Kyle Black forever, at least the heat is now on him. Tony's email -
Dear Gentlemen:
Unbelievable! In 45 years of law practice I have NEVER witnessed anything like this. But, success is ours! And we all owe an incredible, deep debt of gratitude to our Buddy and fellow pipe collector, (deleted).
[And, I am inserting this paragraph. As I finished this e-mail I received a phone call from Kyle Black's former fiancée, (deleted). She got my phone number from someone online. And I thought you might like to know a little background on Kyle Black. His fiancée met him when he was becoming a Marine in San Diego two or three years ago. They have a child together and moved to the Houston area together when Kyle Black was dishonorably discharged. He is a pipe smoker. While in California he was involved in various pipe scams and she sees him as a dedicated criminal who likes to make money the easy way. In the past, he used her name on eBay and she was kicked off eBay owing money he collected in her name. He now lives with his new girlfriend, Lauryn Francis, who has been arrested two or three times for theft. And his "ex" considers him to be the most "skilled manipulator" she has met. She is trying to take him to court to deal with custody and Family Court issues.]
Here is what has happened in our case. After an earlier conversation with Kyle Black's father, last Friday (deleted) started having conversations with Kyle Black himself. Black had countless excuses for everything that happened but was eager to "work things out" short of spending a weekend in the loving, affectionate care of other inmates in the Houston Jail. (In other words, he valued his bunghole more than his money.
(deleted) provided him with dollar amounts and a list of items missing and gave him until the close of business on Friday to confirm restitution. Black called him back and asked for more time. On Saturday, Black left a message for (deleted) assuring him that restitution was underway but could not be completed Saturday.
12 conversations later, on Monday Kyle Black says he complied with law enforcement officials demands. He claims to have borrowed money from his father (who Black's ex-fianceé says is honest and a "retired oilman" who no doubt also wishes to avoid a visit to the jail himself). On Tuesday, tracking numbers were provided to law enforcement. Whether or not success will actually be realized will be known starting tomorrow when deliveries should begin.
The only problem is the possibility that Kyle Black is also conning law enforcement officials. The very first contact anyone had with Kyle Black was a scam that had a similar ending. After a successful $1,500 2-pipe transaction, one seller bought and paid for four pipes totaling $3500. Kyle Black sent him a box with four pipes in the box using insured, priority mail with signature confirmation. (This is similar to what Layne demanded of Black.) The only problem is that the four pipes in the delivered, signed for package were brand-new Dr Grabow's! So signing for and getting an envelope may not include payment. But let us hope the imaginary smiling faces of other inmates in the Houston Jail are enough to deter further fraud!
From this point, we are on our own as far as eBay selling is concerned. I know that Kyle Black is still active on eBay. He bought a pipe from Mike Reschke, delayed payment and never paid. (Mike did not send the pipe.) And as of late as Sunday, Kyle Black bought more tobacco from Ralph Webb and as of yesterday had not paid and was using the same excuses he gave Mike Reschke two weeks earlier.
Black provided a new address, too:
kyle Black
2427 Saddlebred Ln
Manvel, TX 77578-3556
United States
(832) 340-8896
Ralph Webb checked and believes that is a vacant address (which is consistent with law enforcement investigation, too.) The ex-fiancée says that it is Kyle Black's father's new home recently built.
An interesting footnote is that because of earlier e-mails warning him, Ralph Webb had already blocked Kyle Black from bidding in his auctions. Black used his girlfriend's user ID: lauyrn000francis
And while Pipestud and other top sellers on eBay have been warned, now is the time to circulate further warnings to all of your friends inclined to sell on eBay. Kyle Black used an entirely different name ("Anthony Combs") when scamming other sellers. And given the success he had in our small niche on eBay, we can expect him to continue. Getting the word out is the only way for future protection.
From those of you getting something back from Kyle Black, be sure to let me know what you receive from Kyle Black. I will report back to Houston law enforcement after I hear from those getting money back
Thanks again for your cooperation!
Tony
Dear Gentlemen:
Unbelievable! In 45 years of law practice I have NEVER witnessed anything like this. But, success is ours! And we all owe an incredible, deep debt of gratitude to our Buddy and fellow pipe collector, (deleted).
[And, I am inserting this paragraph. As I finished this e-mail I received a phone call from Kyle Black's former fiancée, (deleted). She got my phone number from someone online. And I thought you might like to know a little background on Kyle Black. His fiancée met him when he was becoming a Marine in San Diego two or three years ago. They have a child together and moved to the Houston area together when Kyle Black was dishonorably discharged. He is a pipe smoker. While in California he was involved in various pipe scams and she sees him as a dedicated criminal who likes to make money the easy way. In the past, he used her name on eBay and she was kicked off eBay owing money he collected in her name. He now lives with his new girlfriend, Lauryn Francis, who has been arrested two or three times for theft. And his "ex" considers him to be the most "skilled manipulator" she has met. She is trying to take him to court to deal with custody and Family Court issues.]
Here is what has happened in our case. After an earlier conversation with Kyle Black's father, last Friday (deleted) started having conversations with Kyle Black himself. Black had countless excuses for everything that happened but was eager to "work things out" short of spending a weekend in the loving, affectionate care of other inmates in the Houston Jail. (In other words, he valued his bunghole more than his money.
(deleted) provided him with dollar amounts and a list of items missing and gave him until the close of business on Friday to confirm restitution. Black called him back and asked for more time. On Saturday, Black left a message for (deleted) assuring him that restitution was underway but could not be completed Saturday.
12 conversations later, on Monday Kyle Black says he complied with law enforcement officials demands. He claims to have borrowed money from his father (who Black's ex-fianceé says is honest and a "retired oilman" who no doubt also wishes to avoid a visit to the jail himself). On Tuesday, tracking numbers were provided to law enforcement. Whether or not success will actually be realized will be known starting tomorrow when deliveries should begin.
The only problem is the possibility that Kyle Black is also conning law enforcement officials. The very first contact anyone had with Kyle Black was a scam that had a similar ending. After a successful $1,500 2-pipe transaction, one seller bought and paid for four pipes totaling $3500. Kyle Black sent him a box with four pipes in the box using insured, priority mail with signature confirmation. (This is similar to what Layne demanded of Black.) The only problem is that the four pipes in the delivered, signed for package were brand-new Dr Grabow's! So signing for and getting an envelope may not include payment. But let us hope the imaginary smiling faces of other inmates in the Houston Jail are enough to deter further fraud!
From this point, we are on our own as far as eBay selling is concerned. I know that Kyle Black is still active on eBay. He bought a pipe from Mike Reschke, delayed payment and never paid. (Mike did not send the pipe.) And as of late as Sunday, Kyle Black bought more tobacco from Ralph Webb and as of yesterday had not paid and was using the same excuses he gave Mike Reschke two weeks earlier.
Black provided a new address, too:
kyle Black
2427 Saddlebred Ln
Manvel, TX 77578-3556
United States
(832) 340-8896
Ralph Webb checked and believes that is a vacant address (which is consistent with law enforcement investigation, too.) The ex-fiancée says that it is Kyle Black's father's new home recently built.
An interesting footnote is that because of earlier e-mails warning him, Ralph Webb had already blocked Kyle Black from bidding in his auctions. Black used his girlfriend's user ID: lauyrn000francis
And while Pipestud and other top sellers on eBay have been warned, now is the time to circulate further warnings to all of your friends inclined to sell on eBay. Kyle Black used an entirely different name ("Anthony Combs") when scamming other sellers. And given the success he had in our small niche on eBay, we can expect him to continue. Getting the word out is the only way for future protection.
From those of you getting something back from Kyle Black, be sure to let me know what you receive from Kyle Black. I will report back to Houston law enforcement after I hear from those getting money back
Thanks again for your cooperation!
Tony
