AV123 Mark Schifter Indicted by Grand Jury on Five Counts

[aardvark baguette]

AV123 Mark Schifter Indicted by Grand Jury on Five Counts — Reviews and News from Audioholics

A grand jury has indicted the 53 year-old on suspicion of stealing $180,034 through an ongoing charity fraud.

[Hopstretch]

Sad.

[Dreadhead]

Yeah. Pretty despicable if true.

[aardvark baguette]

It does make future g.a.s. decisions a bit easier though.

[Fitz]

Can't say that I'm all that surprised, but it is still awful news that the money never actually went to those charities.

[swt61]

I got to know Mark a little over the years, I met him once, and have talked with him on the phone a number of times. We were first introduced when he headed Audio Alchemy, and I've done business with him at AV123. He was a warm, likable guy, though admittedly I did not know him well at all. It is sad to hear this.

That being said, if he did defraud people, especially with children,s charities as the rouse (or any charities for that matter), I hope he gets the harshest sentence the legal system can impose. I have no sympathy for that kind of bullshit. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, but it's not looking good for him.

[Fitz]

Steve, I think the biggest thing that causes me and presumably many others to not give much benefit of doubt is the pattern of questionable business practices (and in several cases outright fraud) over the course of the last year or so, in addition to this raffle BS. There's a really long thread on audioholics about it.

[swt61]

Oh I fully agree Fitz. The site has most certainly taken on a different character over the last few years, and not in a good way. I don't ever recommend them any more. I just hope my subs continue to work properly, because I doubt the company will weather this.

[CarlSeibert]

Egad. I wonder if the awful economy has "driven" more people into scamming, or if tighter online communities are just spreading the news more widely. It seems like we hear something like this every week lately.

[swt61]

I think it's just your character. The economy would just be an excuse. You're either a thief or you're not a thief.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Oh I fully agree Fitz. The site has most certainly taken on a different character over the last few years, and not in a good way. I don't ever recommend them any more. I just hope my subs continue to work properly, because I doubt the company will weather this.

I'm in the same boat with a pair of their Rocket Onyx subs. It's a shame, but if Mark really did what they accuse him of doing then he deserves what he gets from the court.

[Salt Peanuts]

Sad news. From a personal stand point, I'm glad I went with the Eminent Tech speakers couple of years back as I was seriously considering AV123 Strata Mini floorstanders.

[The Monkey]

What I think is most interesting here is that it shows the Colorado AG's Office takes an interest in the audio business (though I readily admit their interest was related to the charitable giving, or not as the case may be). Hm, what other shady Colorado-based audio outfit should they know about?

[swt61]

Sherwood industries?

Just kidding, where is ol' Sherwood lately?

[Augsburger]

Sherwood industries?

Just kidding, where is ol' Sherwood lately?

? Embassy of the United States Ankara, Turkey - Home ?

[Sherwood]

? Embassy of the United States Ankara, Turkey - Home ?

Not yet, but closer than ever. Seriously, at this point I'm just waiting for the call. Nothing left to pass.

Also, it would appear his arraignment went off without a hitch, but little news on audioholics.

[Sherwood]

Don't Shifter Me Bro! - Index

[The Monkey]

Not yet, but closer than ever. Seriously, at this point I'm just waiting for the call. Nothing left to pass.

Awesome. That's a career path I often wish I had explored. Well done.

[laxx]

AV123 goes down.

http://www.av123.com/

[HeadphoneAddict]

I really hope my pair of Rocket Onyx subs don't die anytime soon. And my son just dropped $30 on a used X-head headphone amp at the Colorado meet auction, which went toward paying for the room. Sigh...