STUPID STUFF FRAUDSTERS BUY: Gotta Fraud ’Em All!

He spent $57,789 in COVID relief funds on a Pokémon card. Then the feds caught him.

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Dublin, GA – October 9, 2026 – Welcome back to Stupid Stuff Fraudsters Buy, our Friday exploration of the extraordinary things people purchase when they suddenly find themselves with money they probably shouldn’t have.

Last time, we met a Texas fraudster who decided an ordinary Tesla Cybertruck wasn’t conspicuous enough and went with a gold-plated version.

This week, we’re going in an entirely different direction.

Forget Lamborghinis, Rolexes and yachts.

We’re talking about a piece of cardboard.

A very expensive piece of cardboard.

Meet Vinath Oudomsine, a Georgia man who received an $85,000 federal COVID relief loan and decided the best use for nearly $58,000 of it was to purchase a Pokémon trading card.

Not a collection of cards.

One card.

And not just any Pokémon card.

A first-edition holographic Charizard.

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I Choose You, Charizard!

STUPID STUFF FRAUDSTERS BUY: Gotta Fraud ’Em All! — Not the actual card but one of exact type

For those unfamiliar with Pokémon, Charizard is a fire-breathing dragon-like creature that has become one of the most recognizable and valuable characters in the trading-card universe.

First-edition holographic Charizard cards from the original 1999 Pokémon set are particularly desirable among collectors. Pristine examples have sold for extraordinary sums, making them something of a Holy Grail for serious Pokémon enthusiasts.

Oudomsine’s acquisition was reportedly a 1999 first-edition holographic Charizard graded 9.5 out of 10 by Beckett, an independent trading-card authentication and grading company.

The purchase price? $57,789.

That’s approximately 68% of his entire $85,000 federal relief loan.

For perspective, that’s enough money to buy a respectable used car, take a very nice vacation or make a substantial down payment on a house. Instead, Oudomsine bought a fire-breathing cartoon character printed on cardboard.

Admittedly, a very rare fire-breathing cartoon character.

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The Small Problem With the Money

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Oudomsine applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan through the Small Business Administration in July 2020. He claimed to operate an entertainment-services business with 10 employees and annual revenues of $235,000.

Those claims were fraudulent.

Nevertheless, the SBA deposited $85,000 into his bank account in August 2020. By December, a considerable portion of that money had apparently evolved into Charizard.

Unfortunately for Oudomsine, federal investigators weren’t particularly impressed with his investment strategy.

He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and, in March 2022, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, ordered to pay $85,000 in restitution and fined another $10,000.

And the Charizard?

The government took that, too.

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The Catch That Got Away

Unlike some of the ridiculous purchases we’re likely to encounter in this series, a rare first-edition Charizard isn’t necessarily a terrible investment. High-grade Pokémon cards have developed a legitimate collectibles market, with certain examples commanding prices that would make traditional art collectors raise an eyebrow. In fact, depending on the card’s condition, rarity and market timing, Oudomsine might have made a reasonably shrewd purchase.

There was just one rather significant flaw in his investment strategy. He didn’t actually have the money to buy it.

And when federal authorities caught up with him, his prized collectible became government property. The Justice Department announced that Oudomsine had agreed to forfeit the card as part of his sentence.

Presumably, that wasn’t quite the trade he had in mind.

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This Week’s Stupid Stuff Scorecard

BOUGHT: 1999 first-edition holographic Charizard Pokémon card

PRICE: $57,789

MONEY CAME FROM: Fraudulently obtained federal COVID-19 disaster relief funds

PORTION OF LOAN SPENT: Approximately 68%

WHERE IS IT NOW?: Forfeited to the federal government

BONUS PRIZE: Three years in federal prison, $85,000 in restitution and a $10,000 fine

There is something wonderfully ironic about a man spending nearly $58,000 on a collectible from a game built around capturing imaginary creatures, only to discover that federal investigators were considerably better at catching things than he was.

He wanted to catch ’em all.

Unfortunately, the feds caught him first.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice – Georgia Man Who Used COVID Relief Funds to Buy Pokémon Card Sentenced to Prison. This installment revisits a 2022 federal fraud prosecution.