The victim had befriended the Florida man who asked for a hand up and employment.
From the Palm Beach Post: "Authorities said Shane Anthony Mele, 40, of Riviera Beach confessed he stole rare coins and other items, valued at $350,000, from Johnson’s North Palm Beach office in December.
Mele reportedly said he sold some, then ran many through change machines, where he got just face value (33 presidential coins, valued at $1,000 each, netted about $29.30).
Johnson, who said he’s disabled and mostly not working, said Mele wiped him out of his life savings.
“I was using those coins to help stay alive,” he said.
“There’s no insurance that covers this kind of thing, really. Not at the losses we’re talking about,” he said. “It’s put me in a world of hurt.”
When it comes to Florida man, no good deed goes unpunished.
