After being charged with buying a rare Pokémon card with more than $50,000 of COVID-19 emergency loan money, a Georgia man has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. While it has always been popular, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has seen a sudden surge over the last year or so as the collectible cards suddenly grew in value across the country. In early October, the TCG's Pokémon Celebrations expansion was launched alongside a new V Battle Deck to celebrate Pokémon's 25th anniversary. However, it's not just new sets and expansions driving the sudden boom - auctions of rare Pokémon cards have exploded in demand.
It's not just the physical Pokémon card game that's spiked in popularity, either. There have been several video game versions of the tabletop game over the years, but The Pokémon Company recently unveiled a fresh addition in the form of Pokémon Trading Card Game Live. This take on the Pokémon Trading Card Game features all the official rules and is a one-to-one recreation of the real tabletop game. Pokémon Trading Card Game Live will be free-to-play on mobile and PC, but no Nintendo Switch version has been announced so far. It appears the promise of a new digital version of the Pokémon TCG has done little to slow the physical card auction market, though.
Vinath Oudomsine pleaded guilty to lying in order to obtain a COVID-19 disaster relief loan, which he used to buy a rare Pokémon card. According to Southern District of Georgia documents, the man claimed $85,000 from the US Small Business Association's Economic Injury Disaster Loan, meant to support businesses affected by the pandemic. But the Georgia citizen then spent $57,789 of the loan on an undisclosed Pokémon card. Having admitted to the offense, the 31-year-old faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. Acting US Attorney for the State of Georgia David H. Estes remarked that "the unlawful taking of taxpayer dollars is always disgusting" and that his office will work with police to "hold accountable those who would fraudulently obtain and misuse these relief funds."
In less weighty Pokémon news, more of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes' Gym Leader redesigns were recently revealed in a trailer. To fit in with Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's updated visuals, each of the Gen 4 Gym Leaders and members of Team Galactic have been given new looks to fit the games' two art styles. The footage also gave a demonstration of the Sinnoh region's Lake Guardians in action, as well as unveiling the remix of the originals' fan-favorite Lake Verity song.
The fact that someone would not only fraudulently acquire government funds to spend on Pokémon trading cards, but spend more than $50,000 on a single card is likely baffling to many. It's still a mystery which Pokémon card in particular was worth defrauding disaster relief loan money over. Perhaps that information will come out in time, giving more context to the staggering figure spent illegally on the card.
Source: Southern District of Georgia