To me, the biggest red flag is that an associate of Jones is claiming that they should be the winner of the auction. That sounds to me like a conflict of interest in the sale of seized property, if in effect it likely would end up remaining in control of its original owner.
You shouldn’t get to sell your ill-gotten gains to a close friend who’s “totally not going to let you keep them, trust me bro”.
To me, the biggest red flag is that an associate of Jones is claiming that they should be the winner of the auction. That sounds to me like a conflict of interest in the sale of seized property, if in effect it likely would end up remaining in control of its original owner.
You shouldn’t get to sell your ill-gotten gains to a close friend who’s “totally not going to let you keep them, trust me bro”.
It’s a fine, not stolen goods. If they can pay it, it’s hunky dory. It’s not a conflict of interest, it’s the exact opposite.