United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of BARRY RON SKOG, 68, for perpetrating a counterfeit coin fraud scheme. SKOG, who was indicted on April 10, 2018, entered his guilty plea earlier today before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, SKOG owned and operated a business called Burnsville Coin Company, which engaged in advertising and selling numismatic coins. Through his business, SKOG posted advertisements for coins in a publication called Numismatic News. When potential buyers responded to the ads, SKOG would mail them lists of available coins for purchase, many of which were counterfeit. In his communications with the victims, SKOG would often represent himself as an employee of the Burnsville Coin Company named “Ron Peterson," when, in fact, there were no other owners or employees of the company other than SKOG. In total, SKOG stole more than $57,000 from his victims. SKOG also intended to create additional loss by advertising for sale 275 additional counterfeit coins at an advertised sale value of approximately $235,000.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau and the Burnsville Police Department.
Based on the evidence obtained in this case, authorities believe there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau at 651-539-1617. Callers may remain anonymous.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
BARRY RON SKOG, 68
Burnsville, Minn.
Convicted:
* Sale of counterfeit coins, 1 count
* Mail fraud, 1 count
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
