UPDATE for getting scammed by Rusty Cannon from North Carolina

T

thubosky

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
If you are not aware of me getting scammed, ill be posting the link to the original thread. Anyway I basically was contacted by Rusty Cannon from Lexington, NC about a Schon I had listed on Craigslist. He wanted to buy it and then we got talking and about how I wante to buy a new hunting bow with the money. He said he had one he hardly used and a bunch of accessories so we were just gonna trade. We were talking for about a week so I felt comfortable with it, but in the end he never sent the bow.


Update: I've located the Schon wrapless LTD that I sent to Rusty. It's probably been 4-5 months since I located it, so who knows its probably gone. But Rusty sold he cue to one of the owners of Court Square Billiards, Mocksville, NC. "Steve" one of the owners actually read my thread and called me and sai he felt bad but he thinks he bought my stolen cue from Rusty. I described it and sure enough he said that's the cue.

Steve is a newer member on here as "pmracer". He hasn't been on much since he contacted me about the cue. He said he felt bad about it and that Ill just had to learn an expensive lesson. I'm not sure why I would have to learn the lesson? I believe he would be in possession of stolen property so I may pursue that avenue, but the way the police work it'll prob have no good outcome. He may sold the cue already since its been months since be first called me.

I'm thankful he called and I feel bad having to go about it this way, but he was supposed to call and give me updates if he had seen Rusty and never did. And I have tried contacting him about just buying the cue back even and he has ignored my pms. He said he had three businesses and at the time I was really hurting for money. So I just think it's unfair fr him to keep my stolen stick.

Anyway just wanted to get some outside opinions? Or if anyone knows Steve to see if we can work something out before more police action gets involved. Also I want to discuss Carolina Customs. From what Steve said his buddies at Carolina Customs refinished the Schon because it had a distinguishing chip down by the logo. I have emailed Carolina Customs telling them the whole story and just wanting to know if they did refinish it. Because it'd be hard for me to distinguish it as mine now since the chip is gone. And they were giving me a big run around. That they might have refinished it and that they can't remember, they refinish a lot of cues. And then they might have said that they probably did. Not sure how you can forget you refinished it only a month or two after you did it? And the stick was a rare cue from supposedly one of your "buddies" ? But anyway I guess they wanted to act shady and not be 100% honest because one of their friends brought in the cue.

Also I have recently gotten a picture of Rusty Cannon that I will be posting or if I can email it to someone to post that'd b great. I can't get pics to post with iPhone. I feel the need for some type of justice to come about this. The police aren't acting so Im looking for help.

Soooooooo anyway can I get any advice or help with this matter?

Thanks and sorry for rambling.
Tim

UPDATE: here is a Facebook MSG I received from Steve Vick, owner of Court Square Billiards, Mocksville, NC.
I demanded my stolen stick back from him because he bought it from Rusty Cannon.
FYI: He never offered me the stick back. Just called me after I was pressuring him with questions about Rusty Cannon because Rusty said his buddy had a poolhall in Mocksville who could get me a good deal on felt when we were negotiating our trade deal. So I guess Steve decided the right thing to do was to not send me my property back and instead, to sell it. I'm sure he didn't tell the new owner it's stolen, so in my eyes he is just as bad as Rusty Cannon. Any ideas on where to go from here??


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thubosky said:
If you are not aware of me getting scammed, ill be posting the link to the original thread. Anyway I basically was contacted by Rusty Cannon from Lexington, NC about a Schon I had listed on Craigslist. He wanted to buy it and then we got talking and about how I wante to buy a new hunting bow with the money. He said he had one he hardly used and a bunch of accessories so we were just gonna trade. We were talking for about a week so I felt comfortable with it, but in the end he never sent the bow.


Update: I've located the Schon wrapless LTD that I sent to Rusty. It's probably been 4-5 months since I located it, so who knows its probably gone. But Rusty sold he cue to one of the owners of Court Square Billiards, Mocksville, NC. "Steve" one of the owners actually read my thread and called me and sai he felt bad but he thinks he bought my stolen cue from Rusty. I described it and sure enough he said that's the cue.

Steve is a newer member on here as "pmracer". He hasn't been on much since he contacted me about the cue. He said he felt bad about it and that Ill just had to learn an expensive lesson. I'm not sure why I would have to learn the lesson? I believe he would be in possession of stolen property so I may pursue that avenue, but the way the police work it'll prob have no good outcome. He may sold the cue already since its been months since be first called me.

I'm thankful he called and I feel bad having to go about it this way, but he was supposed to call and give me updates if he had seen Rusty and never did. And I have tried contacting him about just buying the cue back even and he has ignored my pms. He said he had three businesses and at the time I was really hurting for money. So I just think it's unfair fr him to keep my stolen stick.

Anyway just wanted to get some outside opinions? Or if anyone knows Steve to see if we can work something out before more police action gets involved. Also I want to discuss Carolina Customs. From what Steve said his buddies at Carolina Customs refinished the Schon because it had a distinguishing chip down by the logo. I have emailed Carolina Customs telling them the whole story and just wanting to know if they did refinish it. Because it'd be hard for me to distinguish it as mine now since the chip is gone. And they were giving me a big run around. That they might have refinished it and that they can't remember, they refinish a lot of cues. And then they might have said that they probably did. Not sure how you can forget you refinished it only a month or two after you did it? And the stick was a rare cue from supposedly one of your "buddies" ? But anyway I guess they wanted to act shady and not be 100% honest because one of their friends brought in the cue.

Also I have recently gotten a picture of Rusty Cannon that I will be posting or if I can email it to someone to post that'd b great. I can't get pics to post with iPhone. I feel the need for some type of justice to come about this. The police aren't acting so Im looking for help.

Soooooooo anyway can I get any advice or help with this matter?

Thanks and sorry for rambling.
Tim
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Little unclear....and I don't remember all the happenings from your original thread. Did you get a police report right when this occurred? That's square one where you have to start in a situation like that. Even if the local authorities would not offer assistance, I would have been down at my local police station and would refuse to leave until someone took down the report, copies of pictures of the cues, emails, list of phone calls, texts, etc. All with the report in the file. Then I would take that down to my postmaster if the item was shipped via USPS. Then, later if the cue shows up, at least you have some ammunition/credibility to take to local authorities, wherever the cue and new 'owner' resides.

Interesting what the room owner told you. Doubt he would be singing that same tune if the shoe was on the other foot.

Also, interesting that Carolina Customs is mentioned. I can't imagine those guys knowingly getting involved in refinishing a stolen cue, even for a friend. If so, that would be a big shocker to me.

In the end it may end up being a hard lesson......and that's very unfortunate. Without a police report and supporting documents/facts, you're really not in the best of situations. Sorry.
 
cueaddicts said:
Little unclear....and I don't remember all the happenings from your original thread. Did you get a police report right when this occurred? That's square one where you have to start in a situation like that. Even if the local authorities would not offer assistance, I would have been down at my local police station and would refuse to leave until someone took down the report, copies of pictures of the cues, emails, list of phone calls, texts, etc. All with the report in the file. Then I would take that down to my postmaster if the item was shipped via USPS. Then, later if the cue shows up, at least you have some ammunition/credibility to take to local authorities, wherever the cue and new 'owner' resides.

Interesting what the room owner told you. Doubt he would be singing that same tune if the shoe was on the other foot.

Also, interesting that Carolina Customs is mentioned. I can't imagine those guys knowingly getting involved in refinishing a stolen cue, even for a friend. If so, that would be a big shocker to me.

In the end it may end up being a hard lesson......and that's very unfortunate. Without a police report and supporting documents/facts, you're really not in the best of situations. Sorry.
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I did go to the police and they supposedly made a report and were supposed to keep me updated but I haven't heard anything from them. I moved about 40 min away, so the main officer is done work before I am so I can't really get to go and talk with him unless I take off work.

And I'm just saying that it's funny Carolina customs can't down right say they refinished the cue no doubt about it. It's a rare model and surely the only one like it that ever went to their shop for a refinish. And the owner of Court Square said he had his buddies down at Carolina customs refinish it. Something along those lines he said, and that he sends a lot down there cuz they do good work. So I'm sure there is some relationship there.

And I filed a complaint with the US postal service fraud team too and never heard anything back. It just sucks. People get paid to do all this like police and the postal service fraud team and I'm doing more work than they are.
 
Sounds like a bad situation, for sure. Hate it for you.

I've never filed a police report and not gotten a copy. You should have that if it was done. If they did it, go get a copy. Same with the postal fraud complaint. Pressure your local postmaster to get a status, but you've got more credibility to the claim if you have a copy of the police report you can give them. Without that, your issue probably just goes to the bottom of the pile.

Also.....for all the readers.

I know on AZ a lot of guys do trade deals where both things are shipped at the same time. This may be ok when there is absolute trust between parties, but in almost every circumstance, this is a bad idea, imo. Someone needs to the driving the train in a deal. Whether it be whomever is accepting the trade offer, the trader that is most 'known' or with the best references, whatever you decide.....but it's usually not a good idea when packages are supposed to pass in the night on a trade deal. Just opens up all kinds of opportunities for parties to end up dissatisfied.

My $0.02 for the day.
 
Assuming the police aren't going to do anything, you need to file a civil detainer warrant or whatever they call it in North Carolina to recover wrongfully held personal property. Basically you will tell the court your story, that you sold your cue, the guy didn't pay for it, and now it is in the hands of the room owner. This should be an easy quick remedy. You need to act quickly as there may be a short statute of limitations period.

Had a good friend that had a banjo stolen. Twenty years later, he finds it and we sue the guy that had possession. He claimed he bought it at a yard sale. Court ordered it returned.

The room owner now has affirmative knowledge that he is in the possession of stolen property. If he is charged with the crime, based on the value of the cue, it is most likely felonypossession of stolen property.

If the LEO has any balls at all, both of these dirt bags should be charged.

Good luck.
 
Tim I went to mocksville recently and will be going there soon.. I have been and still keeping an eye open for rusty... I'm calling his ass out...
 
If you have a police report and know where the cue is you need to go to the station and ask that they escort you to the bar. The property is evidence and he will be forced to hand it over. I know because I was once in possession of stolen property I legally purchased at a pawn shop.

If you do not get the response you want go to the location and call the non-emergency number. Let them know you filed a report, give them the report number and let them know you plan to enter the establishment to get your property back and that you prefer to do that accompanied by the police.

They will respond on a call like that. I repo'd a vehicle that way.
 
He is a room owner? That's pretty bad.

If all you say is true:
1) You filed a police report
2) You reported it to the postal authorities
3) The guy admitted he has the cue

If all that is true, then I believe you are dealing with another criminal. The cue is stolen and he knows it. He also admits he had the cue refinished which removes a key identifying feature? Yeah...pretty bad.


As for Carolina Cues, I can understand them being quiet on the issue. Somebody contacts them out of the blue with this matter? I sure wouldn't say much if I were them.

Imagine if you owned a body shop and it was discovered that you repainted a stolen car. You could conceivably find yourself shut down, locked out, and having some serious explaining to do to the police.

By the same token, the room owner knowingly has a stolen cue refinished? If he sells cues in his room he may find the yellow tape around his own establishment and all his stuff held as potential evidence if they suspect he is dealing in stolen goods. It could be really very bad.


Get your documentation together and engage the proper authorities. That's what I think. Of course, that assumes that all of what you have said is accurate and true.

It is true, there is a lesson in this for you. But there should be a serious lesson for the guy that thinks he can keep the stolen cue. A very serious lesson.



.
 
Bishop said:
If you have a police report and know where the cue is you need to go to the station and ask that they escort you to the bar. The property is evidence and he will be forced to hand it over. I know because I was once in possession of stolen property I legally purchased at a pawn shop.

If you do not get the response you want go to the location and call the non-emergency number. Let them know you filed a report, give them the report number and let them know you plan to enter the establishment to get your property back and that you prefer to do that accompanied by the police.

They will respond on a call like that. I repo'd a vehicle that way.
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The big problem with anything really happening is that I live in Pennsylvania and the cue is now in North Carolina. Not sure even if the pool room owner still has it or he could've got nervous and sold it. He sai someone was looking at buying it before he went out of town for the weekend and he would let me know if it had sold. He never really got back to me about the cue. And this was months ago. I didn't want to post anything to tip anybody off about it. But frankly with working a lot of hours and moving an everything I have has little time to act on it so I figure ill just post the info now and see if anything comes about.
 
If he sells a cue he knows is stolen, then he becomes a co-conspirator in the theft.

The whole bunch needs to be prosecuted, including the guy he is selling kown stolen property to.
 
golubushka said:
I'm not a lawyer (as you'll plainly see by my comments)...but I'm not sure this is a criminal matter at all at this point, rather it's more likely a civil/business matter.

The OP *sent* the cue to RC as part of a deal/contract, and RC didn't complete (defaulted on) his part of the contract...wouldn't that make it a civil matter rather than a criminal matter???
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Doubtful.....the other party didn't 'pay' for the merchandise, whether it be something equivalent in trade or cash. I would consider it stolen.

I wouldn't want that to be my defense when I'm explaining it to a judge.....lol
 
I would immediately send a copy of the police report and a certified letter demanding the cue be returned to the police station as evidence or risk being names as an accessory.

I know when someone told me I had their cue that I bought at a pawn shop I was reluctant to return it without any proof. I had no problem going to the police station though. They confirmed it was his cue and I wasn't being scammed.

This will suffice as far as notice of stolen goods. Just saying something is stolen doesn't make him an accessory but if he's provided with the police report and provided with a letter asking for its return it will make it much easier to press charges.

If the police report calls it theft then its not a civil matter. They should treat it like any other theft.

The letter might scare him enough to return it. If not, then you're going to need to make a trip. Its probably the only way.

One thing is for sure if you decide to take him to small claims court he'll be responsible for all of your expenses. Including travel. You can nickel and dime him to death.
 
There seems to be a lack of follow-through and due dilligence on several folk's part. That being said...I would cut your loses and move on.

Take it as a lesson(s) learned and be more cautious in the future.
 
We have several local news stations who love to report on things like this. If you really wanted to get under this guys skin then contact a few TV stations and let them know a local bar owner is refusing to return your stolen property and supply them with a police report.

Tons of people in town here have recouped their money on bad deals or theft when a business owner is confronted with the the idea that their business is going to be on the news and he'll be named a thief publicly.

I wouldn't let it go. You were unsure what to do, the police did nothing and there's nothing stopping you from being proactive now about it. Get your cue back.
 
Tell the guy you will buy it from him to see if he still has it. Then go there with the police or a gun and get it back.
 
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