by Björn Schöpe
February 14, 2013 – In November 2012 Vermont Police heard about large amounts of coins being cashed in at jewelers and coin shops of the area around Alburg. Approximately 12 to 15 people sold coins worth some $250,000 in total, all of them apparently suspect criminals and drug addicts. Some of the arrested suspects declared they stole the sold coins from the property of a deceased man named Richard Burgess.
Mr Burgess died an accidental death in March 2012. He lived secluded in his camper trailer and was a notorious hoarder. Police did not find any coins after his death but due to the large masses of material can not exclude that there were any. People who knew Mr Burgess state that he indeed had been investing in gold for some years, however, nobody had ever seen any of these coins. After Mr Burgess’s death his property was being looted various times since he had no family and a brother informed about the situation did not contact the authorities.
Police is now investigating in where Mr Burgess – who once used to call himself legally Radkin as well and who lived in 578 US Rt 2, Alburg, Vermont – purchased this gold. Detective Sergeant Edward Meslin hopes that some dealer might remember this person as a client and can help with the investigations. If anybody has information regarding this case please contact Edward Meslin: (802)524-5993 x2706 or Doug Davis from the Numismatic Crime Information Center via email.
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