One of two men accused of staging a six-figure heist of trading cards at the 2023 edition of Gen Con has taken a plea deal that will let him avoid jail time.
According to an article by Jade Jackson of The Indianapolis Star, New York resident Thomas Dunbar admitted to being one of two men who used a pallet jack to steal boxes of trading cards from Pastimes Comics & Games, a major retailer and event organizer based in the Chicago area. The stolen items, initially thought to be worth around $300,000 but later valued at $195,652, included cards from Magic: The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, and Disney Lorcana, the last of which had an early release event at Gen Con 2023 ahead of the game’s debut.
The cards were recovered later that month, and in September 2023, Dunbar and his co-accused, Andrew Giaume, were charged with theft, a Level 5 felony under Indiana law. Dunbar’s plea replaces that felony with a misdemeanor, and probation is in lieu of a suspended two-year prison sentence.
Dunbar’s plea includes a variety of other penalties and requirements to make good, including forfeiture of all stolen items, 40 hours of community service, an apology letter to Gen Con and its fans, and a two-year ban on entering the Indiana Convention Center, Gen Con’s host venue and the site of the theft. Dunbar must also pay restitution, an unspecified amount to Pastimes president Alan Hochman and $27,141 to Magic: The Gathering makers Wizards of the Coast.
As of this writing, Dunbar’s co-accused, Andrew Giaume, has not taken a deal. His trial is scheduled to begin in July 2025.