Full Notification

A high-value anime trading card was recovered after the suspect who defrauded the owner attempted to sell it at a trading card convention this past weekend.

San Mateo, CA – At 10:56 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026, San Mateo Police dispatch received a call about a stolen trading card at the San Mateo Event Center, where a large trading card convention was occurring. Upon arrival, officers met with both Event Center Security and a vendor. The vendor had reported to security that a male subject attempted to sell him a trading card. When viewing the card, the vendor realized he was familiar with the card and had previously learned the card has been “stolen” via a Facebook group post. The vendor held onto the card, while security detained the suspect.
 
After obtaining information for the victim, he was contacted. It was learned the suspect had attempted to purchase the high-value card from him in Garden Grove, CA in July. The sale price at the time was $30,000. After exchanging what the victim believed to be $30,000 in cash, the suspect fled with the card and only later did the victim realize he was defrauded after only collecting a few hundred dollars. The victim then took to Facebook Groups to alert other trading card enthusiasts and vendors of the situation. A police report was also filed in Garden Grove.
 
The suspect, who initially lied about his identity, was identified as Constantin Nitescu, and was placed under arrest. It was learned Nitescu had attempted at least two times prior to sell the card; once in Las Vegas and another at card show in Santa Clara County. Both attempts were unsuccessful and law enforcement was called, but Nitescu had fled prior to their arrival. Nitescu is also under investigation for a similar type of crime in Marina, CA. and in addition to this arrest, he also had three active warrants for his arrest.
 
The card was recovered and Nitescu was transported and booked into the San Mateo County Jail on the below charges.
 
ARREST:
Constantin Nitescu, age 44, Washington resident
 
CHARGES:
487(a) PC-Grand theft, 496(a) PC-Possession of stolen property, 532(a) PC-Theft under false pretenses, 148.9 PC-Providing false identification to law enforcement, and warrants.