Keith Contarino Arrested For Drug Crimes, Accused Of Stealing Money - Bleeding Cool News

Keith Contarino is a long time vintage comics dealer, collector, and contributor to the Overstreet Price Guide and Comic Book Marketplace.

User drdonaldblake posted on the CGC Collectors Society forum;

As some of the dealers here will know i had a working arrangement with Keith for years where he would hold my money and buy me books from the USA (easier and more practical than doing it from australia).

He has stolen $26, 0000 from me and has not replied emails, and has been uncontactable for 3 months now so i do not think i will get my $ back.

very sad that a 20 year friendship has been wrecked by this.

Reports indicate that  John Keith Contarino and his wife were arrested in July "on a total of 58 charges that range from first degree cruelty to children to possession of dangerous drugs" though we was bailed in early August on $75,000. Patch.com states;

An East Cobb couple allegedly gave their 17-year-old daughter and other teenagers permission to use the family's home as a "hangout" to drink alcohol and use drugs.

When Cobb authorities executed a search warrant at 3791 Ardsley Ct., they found numerous prescription pills as well as used, uncapped syringes scattered throughout John and Amy Contarino's house, according to Cobb arrest warrants.

The couple was "aware of the copious amounts of narcotics and alcohol usage by teenage and young adults within the residence," according to the warrants. "Accused helped to furnish and encouraged the narcotics and alcohol usage within the residence."

John and Amy Contarino were arrested July 30 on a total of 58 charges that range from first degree cruelty to children to possession of dangerous drugs, according to online jail records.

He does seem to have refunded people on eBay who he was dealing with when in custody, citing a "family emergency". Bleeding Cool's Mark Seifert posted;

I always considered him one of the most knowledgeable guys around at that time. I learned a lot from reading his market reports in the Overstreet price guide updates  [late 80s-early 90s].

A shame about all this, hope it somehow works out for everybody.

Keith has not responded to enquiries made by Bleeding Cool earlier this morning.