California Man Sentenced for Violin Fraud and Bank Robbery
In an astonishing case of deception, a man from California, Mark Meng, 58, of Irvine, managed to convince a Virginia violin shop to send him a selection of exquisite, high-value instruments under the guise of a collector and musician. Federal law enforcement officials reported that among the instruments sent were an 1823 violin valued at an impressive $175,000, a 1903 violin worth $55,000, and three bows totaling around $5,000.
Mr. Meng was supposed to either finalize a purchase or return the instruments after a short trial period. However, instead of complying, he issued a check for $235,234 that ultimately bounced. Allegations state that he sold one of the violins for a mere fraction of its worth. The indictment also detailed that he acquired violins from multiple music stores and even committed a bank robbery near his residence.
In September, Mr. Meng pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of bank robbery, leading to his sentencing on Wednesday to a term of 46 months in federal prison.
His attorney, Anthony M. Solis, offered insight into Mr. Meng’s struggles, stating that after being released from a previous prison sentence, his client faced significant challenges. Mr. Solis remarked, “He had lapsed into some drugs and gambling, and things kind of got out of hand.”
A particularly concerning detail from the defendant’s sentencing memorandum revealed that Mr. Meng suffered a heart attack on the day of his arrest in the spring of 2024.
The indictment elaborated on Mr. Meng’s fraudulent activities, which spanned from 2020 to 2023. Posing as a serious collector of musical instruments, he contacted various violin shops across the nation, expressing interest in trying high-end violins. In several instances, he purchased bows before requesting the violins for a brief trial period, ultimately leading to his criminal activities.
