Nevada Man Sentenced to Prison for Jackie Robinson Contract Fraud Scheme
Mykalai Kontilai, a Nevada man, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $6.1 million in restitution for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme involving Jackie Robinson contracts. Kontilai, 55, faced charges of wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, and failure to file tax returns after misappropriating funds to support a lavish lifestyle.
In 2013, Kontilai purchased physical copies of Robinson’s first pro contracts with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Royals for $2 million. He used these contracts to raise $23 million for a startup e-commerce auction business called Collector’s Coffee, Inc. Kontilai falsely claimed the contracts were worth up to $36 million to entice investors to contribute funds.
Kontilai misused $6.1 million of investor funds for personal expenses, including a Cadillac with a customized license plate, private school tuition, and luxury home rentals. Prosecutors allege that Kontilai misled banks, lied to the SEC, and concealed proceeds of his fraudulent scheme from the IRS.
After seeking asylum in Russia in 2019, Kontilai was arrested in Germany and extradited to the U.S. in May. While facing a possible 20-year sentence and $6.1 million in restitution, Kontilai entered a plea deal that reduced the maximum sentence from 300 years. Charges in Colorado were dropped as part of the agreement.
The SEC’s civil case is ongoing, with a proposed penalty of $50 million. Ownership of the Robinson contracts is still under dispute. Through these details, it becomes evident that Mykalai Kontilai’s fraudulent activities have not gone unnoticed, leading to his conviction and sentencing.
