... in this case, Charles.

> But isn't it the "nice people" who wind up in the news as part of some criminal act?

After practicing law for more than 25 years, most of it as a prosecutor or defense counsel in criminal cases, I can tell you without equivocation that most people involved in serious crimes are not "nice" at all. I'd also be willing to bet that, without exception, every one of us (nice or otherwise) has committed a criminal act at one time or another.

> These are the facts ...

o This individual makes money off of Club members but is not a member of the Club himself

So what? Club members who don't want him to "make money off them" can simply not buy his chips. It is not unethical, illegal, deceptive, underhanded or any other negative term you care to apply for a non-member to sell chips to club members.

Do you think membership in the club should be a prerequisite to anyone selling chips to club members? If so, how would you propose implementing and/or enforcing such a rule? The corollary, of course, would have to be that club members cannot buy from non-members either -- which would put a real damper on most chip "discoveries".

> o This individual sells chips without fully disclosing the nature of the
> chips, I am referring here to the non-casino chips that this individual sells

Can you point me to an eBay ad in which he has done this? Have you reviewed all of his ads before making this assertion? I just looked at the description of every non-casino chip he has on eBay at the moment and I see none which can be described as deceptive or even "not fully disclosed".

> o This individual recently sold a fake brass core. While he did disclose that the chip was
> fake, I would be interested in knowing how he came in the possession of the chip ...

He got it from David Whalen.

> ... to further the Club's investigation. Is he cooperating with the Club's investigation? I think not.

On what basis do you "think not", Charles? Is this a "fact"? Are you speaking from any personal knowledge? If not, on what basis are you asserting this "fact"?

Or are you simply lashing out in anger (in which case you might be violating the code of ethics yourself).

The truth is, Bill did cooperate with my inquiry and responded fully to the questions I asked him. Which is more than I can say for some other people.

Frankly, I think you are diminishing the moral force of your own position by making such unfounded (and untrue) allegations. Furthermore, I think you owe him an apology.

> He took the opportunity of the publicity surrounding the
> brass core situation to make some additional money for himself.

So what? Is that unethical in some way? How is that any different than people "taking advantage of the situation" to make some extra money for themselves by selling the Hard Rock convention chips? Or any other scarce LE? C'mon, Charles, it's called the free enterprise system.

> He may be nice, but I am not buying what he is selling.

Which is fine, don't buy it. But, I wouldn't expect everyone else to agree with you.

I don't question your right/privilege to criticize others for conduct you think is inappropriate, but you should at least do so based on accurate facts.

----- jim o\-S