Bad Guy Sheldon Brown & Charles Lowery

[Ch^10]

BUYERS BEWARE.

Recently, I made a deal with Sheldon Brown (Antioch, IL). The snake that I was supposed to be receive was a pastel het clown female supposedly produced by Jon's Jungle. However, after investigation of the included paperwork, in addition to verification from Jon Levey the owner of Jon's Jungle, I discovered that the genetic paperwork was forged.

I immediately contacted Sheldon Brown (possibly doing business as Charles Lowery out of Round Lake Beach, IL) and let him know that I had found out about the forged paperwork. He said that "he just got pulled over from driving without a license and would call me back." Countless emails, texts and voice messages later, and I have yet to hear back from this individual. He has my 09' female piebald (pictured below). I'm not sure if he's traded or sold her, but if anyone see's this snake, please contact me immediately.

I have been speaking with Jon Levey (GREAT GUY) since day one of this nightmarish ordeal, and both him and myself are committed to bringing this scammer to justice. If you have done business with either Sheldon Brown or Charles Lowery, please come forward, post to this thread, and contact either Jon or myself; it is very likely that you have forged genetic documentation and a single gene animal that is het for zilch.

Again, if you have seen my lovely piebald girl below for sale or trade, please contact me immediately. Thank you.

 

[Amelanistic Orca]

Tuff break; never good to hear.. Always do your homework; in any trade as well!! Super scary; but super common..

 

[Devon Hodgins]

Wow it is crazy that you can't even trust paperwork nowadays.

I will watch the classifieds and be in contact if I find your girl. Where was this guy located? If anyone is near him we may be able to help. Was the trade local or shipped?

 

[LauraB]

Please post any emails, text msgs, whatever, that you are in possession of.
Tracking/tracing a possible scammer/thief is always easier when as much info as possible is available.

Where was this guy located?

Devon, the OP indicated the seller/trader is either in Antioch, IL or Round Lake Beach, IL.

 

[hhmoore]

Wow it is crazy that you can't even trust paperwork nowadays.

You're kidding, right?
Paperwork is only as good as the person signing it.

 

[hhmoore]

You're kidding, right?
Paperwork is only as good as the person signing it.

*or providing it

 

[Focal]

Got his phone number, address and/or email? This is comes in handy when searching for him or for people that end up dealing with him.

 

[Sushi Dragons]

I agree, if you could show us all communications regarding the transaction, that would be helpful. Especially copies of the forged paperwork. Perhaps Jon could post a legitimate example of his genetics paperwork for comparison.

If someone passes themselves off as legitimate, helpful, friendly, well-spoken, etc. there is little reason not to trust paperwork given. The tone of some of the responses seems to be "too bad, so sad" and "should have done your homework" which doesn't seem fair in this particular instance. At least not based on what we know so far.

 

[Matt2979]

I hate to see anyone get ripped off like that! I've never heard of this person. Does he have a username on FC? (Not finding anything on either individual by searching this site.)

 

[hhmoore]

If someone passes themselves off as legitimate, helpful, friendly, well-spoken, etc. there is little reason not to trust paperwork given.

I happen to have an opposing view...if I don't know the person - either personally, or by reputation, their paperwork is worthless in my eyes. Paper is cheap; and legitimate, helpful, friendly, etc is exactly how scammers present themselves. (I intentionally left off well-spoken, because that is getting more difficult to find these days...and it doesn't mean anything one way or the other).
For the record, my initial comment about the paperwork was not directed toward the OP

To the OP:
I'm curious about the inclusion of the name Charles Lowery - where's the tie in? There's got to be a connection someplace (unless you pulled it out of your ), but it isn't shown here.

 

[Devon Hodgins]

You're kidding, right?
Paperwork is only as good as the person signing it.

Well actually I have done business with Jon's jungle and everything went very smooth.(the het proved out).I have a friend who does alot of business with them so I wouldnt have second guessed the paperwork.I wouldn't ever think about forged paperwork,until now.

Not saying you are lying but do you have any evidence from the transaction.(i.e. email,phone #,address) It will be easier if those were provided.

 

[Lucille]

If someone passes themselves off as legitimate, helpful, friendly, well-spoken, etc. there is little reason not to trust paperwork given.

There was a company that used to do biz here, Top Shelf Exotics. The owner was smooth as silk and popular and well liked.

I was turned into shark meat for a little while for suggesting that a program he was running might have had ulterior motives.

He took people here for thousands and thousands in fake hets. Not just big dealers, but little people too that wanted a good het as part of their foundation breedings.

Go buy an extra large package of popcorn, and browse through this thread. If you have never seen it, it is worth looking at. There's some kind of famous saying 'those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it' or something of the sort. Take heed.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78572&highlight=shelf+exotics+chris+johnson

 

[Amelanistic Orca]

I happen to have an opposing view...if I don't know the person - either personally, or by reputation, their paperwork is worthless in my eyes. Paper is cheap; and legitimate, helpful, friendly, etc is exactly how scammers present themselves. (I intentionally left off well-spoken, because that is getting more difficult to find these days...and it doesn't mean anything one way or the other).
For the record, my initial comment about the paperwork was not directed toward the OP

To the OP:
I'm curious about the inclusion of the name Charles Lowery - where's the tie in? There's got to be a connection someplace (unless you pulled it out of your ), but it isn't shown here.

Quick; etch a sketch this in a cave wall!!!! Another bookworthy quote from Double H!!! We love your stuff sir!!

 

[wyblep]

I believe what happened was the gentleman who was doing the trade was operating under the name Sheldon Brown. But when the package was received the return address was labeled Charles Lowery. That is how the two names have come to light.

I am some what familiar with the circumstances of this situation because I actually contacted Jon Levy about this forged paperwork. A friend of mine contacted me about a trade deal he was working out with someone for this pastel het clown. When Jon's name came up as the person who produced the animal and paperwork, he decided to call me because I know Jon pretty well.

I then called Jon and asked about the animal in question and he said he did not get rid of any female pastel het clown that season. So I went to my friend’s house and asked him to give the guy a call and see if he would send us a copy of the paperwork which he did send via a text/pic. I immediately noticed it was Jons Jungle on the header with his logo on the paperwork but the name was different. So I contacted Jon and forwarded all the info I had and we also called the guy back to ask him where he acquired this animal and paperwork from

. He proceeded to tell us he got it from a friend but would not provide a name. So we informed him that this was not a legit genetic guarantee and that more then likely this female was nothing more then a pastel. We also gave him contact info for Jon from Jon's Jungle and he did in fact call Jon immediately to inquire about the legitimacy of the animal in question. Jon called me and told me that he informed the gentleman that this was NOT one of his animals and asked where he got it but once again the gentleman would not give a name.

Well shortly after this all took place the OP contacted Jon about the animal in question because he did a trade with this Sheldon Brown / Charles Lowery and was just trying to verify the snake in question. I think he became suspicious when he received the packed with a name other then who he was dealing with in the return label on the package. I hope the OP can come on here and answer any of the questions you might have. Jon has contacted me more then a few times asking my advice on how to handle this situation and I instructed him to use the BOI to get the word out about this to see if he has done this same deal to anyone else in the reptile industry and to see if there is any other forged paperwork out there from this guy with his name on it.

There are still some more details coming to light as we speak. I am helping Jon get some time line issues together and some phone numbers that the gentleman called Jon and my friend and I from.

I just seen how a few people on here are questioning the OP claims and I want to let you guys know he does have a legitimate claim here.

Paul Wyble @ Steel City Exotics

 

[Ch^10]

I will try to address the questions of the posters later today. Here is the genetic documentation that was provided with the snake. Yes, shame on me for not doing all my homework. He is very knowledgeable and I saw Jon's header on the documentation, which was enough for me (again, shame on me). When I received the actual paperwork, the price threw up the red flags (he stated he paid $2000 for the snake and the documentation said otherwise--$800 for a female pastel het clown, give me a break). The pictured snake did not match the snake sent...another red flag. I looked up Jon's name and it did not match the name on the paperwork (another shame on me).

 

[wyblep]

here is a copy of the paperwork in question. As you can see it was signed by another name other then Jon Levy the owner of Jons Jungle.

 

[wyblep]

Thank you Grant I guess you beat me to posting it. Thanks for coming back on here. Ill let you take over. Paul

 

[Ch^10]

Wow it is crazy that you can't even trust paperwork nowadays.

I will watch the classifieds and be in contact if I find your girl. Where was this guy located? If anyone is near him we may be able to help. Was the trade local or shipped?

Antioch, IL
Trade was shipped. I am in Washington State.

 

[Ch^10]

Got his phone number, address and/or email? This is comes in handy when searching for him or for people that end up dealing with him.

Phone: 244.440.9572
Email: [email protected]
Address:42395 North Addison Lane
Antioch, IL 60002

I agree, if you could show us all communications regarding the transaction, that would be helpful. Especially copies of the forged paperwork. Perhaps Jon could post a legitimate example of his genetics paperwork for comparison.

If someone passes themselves off as legitimate, helpful, friendly, well-spoken, etc. there is little reason not to trust paperwork given. The tone of some of the responses seems to be "too bad, so sad" and "should have done your homework" which doesn't seem fair in this particular instance. At least not based on what we know so far.

I will speak with Jon.

The "too bad, so sad" thing is what it is; I did not come here for sympathy, but to warn others of his activities.

I happen to have an opposing view...if I don't know the person - either personally, or by reputation, their paperwork is worthless in my eyes. Paper is cheap; and legitimate, helpful, friendly, etc is exactly how scammers present themselves. (I intentionally left off well-spoken, because that is getting more difficult to find these days...and it doesn't mean anything one way or the other).
For the record, my initial comment about the paperwork was not directed toward the OP

To the OP:
I'm curious about the inclusion of the name Charles Lowery - where's the tie in? There's got to be a connection someplace (unless you pulled it out of your ), but it isn't shown here.

Sorry, I don't pull things out my , and I do have a good guy thread (modest, but that is neither here nor there).

http://www.faunaclassified.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1237105

Below is the shipping label; I did not work with Charles Lowery, but received the snake from him. Sheldon's explanation was that his friend is a FedEx employee and he received a shipping discount if shipped in his name. I don't trust him and that is why I included the name.

 

[Ch^10]

Thank you Grant I guess you beat me to posting it. Thanks for coming back on here. Ill let you take over. Paul

Paul, thank you for your support; both you and Jon have been great over the last 4 weeks and I really appreciate the fact that you posted.