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A RARE coin expert who stole more than half-a-million dollars worth of valuable coins and notes and sold them on eBay to fund an insatiable basketball card obsession has been sentenced to prison.

Marcus Loricchiella, 31, was yesterday sentenced in the County Court to serve 42 months' jail, with a 17-month minimum, for the stealing spree that spanned at least three years and saw him pocket more than $537,000 of valuable collector’s items.

He pleaded guilty to five charges of theft and one charge of dealing with the proceeds of crime. Loricchiella stole the items while he was employed as a rare coin expert at renowned dealer Downies Coins.

The court heard Lorichiella stole the valuable items and sold them on eBay then used the money to fund a bizarre obsession with Michael Jordan basketball cards, travel to New Zealand and Fiji and furnish his home.

He was employed by the company in 2004 but was sacked in July last year after a stocktake check uncovered the crimes. Judge David Parsons said Loricchiella made immediate admissions but believed he had only stolen about $250,000 worth of rare coins and notes. 
The Michael Jordan collection acquired was believed to be valued at around $100k but no news as to what happened to the cards...

Herald Sun.