• Responding to email notices you receive.
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    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

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    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Top Shelf Exotics (Inquiry)

Jerry, the investigator handling the case has sent those involved an email, as he has stilll been waiting on a lot of depositions.

As for the "civil" case, well....that's still somewhat up in the air.
 
More info on domain name

Both topshelfexotics.com and topshelfexotic.com are owned by someone in a private location in buffalo, ny. the administrative contact emails both go to [email protected], so i can only assume that chris himself purchased that domain as well as the one for TSE that is normally used, and either pointed it to topselfexotic.com, or just left it sit (which would be stupid). they are both pointed to name servers at dreamhost.com also.
to find out the exacts, just go to registerfly.com (or any other domain name reseller that is ICANN accredited), and do a whois lookup on the domain names. i would post the information, but i am not sure if that would violate any privacy laws. but i thought i would give an update on that information.
 
Registrant:
Top Shelf Exotics
Private Location
Buffalo, NY 14000
US
877-737-8153


Domain Name: TOPSHELFEXOTICS.COM

Administrative Contact:
Exotics, Top Shelf [email protected]
Private Location
Buffalo, NY 14000
US
877-737-8153


Technical Contact:
Exotics, Top Shelf [email protected]
Private Location
Buffalo, NY 14000
US
877-737-8153

It looks to be owned by them as well
Gordon C. Snelling
 
LOL, the jist of it was for those who haven't sent in their depositions to get it done before he retires. ;)
 
This is all I get, as well. It looks like a lot of changes occurred on June 24 (from what little understanding I have of this stuff, lol). I wonder what, if any, signifigance this is? Perhaps it's a good thing at least a couple of people saved screenshots of the site. :hehe:

jglass38 said:
You must have it cached because it is gone..Just a directory structure..

untitled.jpg
Click to expand...
 
I got another new email from yet another person who is "waiting" on snakes from TSE, add another $2500.00 to what he owes folks.

*sigh*

I'd like to remind everyone who has purchased snakes and not received them to also contact Derek Jones (SVT Snake) to be put on "the list" of folks who is owed money from TSE. I'd really like to try to keep a "running tab" on just how much money is involved.

Derek......I will be going on vacation this Thursday through the week of the fourth, but if you'd like any help working on "the list", let me now and I'd be glad to work with that for you after we return.

A vacation is necessary for the sanity at this point. ;)
 
Cathy, I have all the information that has been sent to me in a spreadsheet. I know there are quite a few people out there that have not contacted me with their information.
 
Hey guys, I have been in contact with Detective Brown. He has only recieved 5 dispositions so far and wanted me to encourage everyone to send in their dispositions ASAP. We need to get these to him if we want his help. Time to step up to the plate and do your part. Please quit procrastinating and get it done.
 
That is unbelievable

How much of a crime has to be committed before people decide to take any action. 5 dispositions will not take this to the grand jury. At the rate that this has been progessing, I am certain the civil avenues for redress has been just as dismal if not worse.

I was really hoping for an arrest, but apparently without sufficient complainants, at this stage after all of this time, people I guess, are just to lazy to concern themselves for their own money or losses. This is what creates a TSE and Chris. He knew it, its just the rest of the herp community that did not.
 
Possible reason for few reports to Officer Brown

It may be that some are getting their money back through a CC / PP charge back. I know in my case that it can and does work. It just took 60 days. The dispute is now with PP / TSE.

Oh yeah. Congratulations Chris/TSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On expanding from Domestic fraud crime to International fraud crime. Your family must be very proud. May your deeds follow you for the rest of your life.

Good Luck Every One!!!!!!

Chris R
 
I'm not very familiar with how all of this works. Why does it matter how many depositions Investigator Brown receives? If he receives five or five hundred hasn't a crime still been committed? Shouldn't the perpetrator still be persued?

I undertsand that more people makes a better case but what is the cutoff point?

Later,
Dave Schroeder
 
The adage is that the "the squeaky wheel gets the oil". Officer Brown is needs a little more squeak in this to get it higher on the radar. I do not expect newcomers to the thread to read 2000+ posts, but those of you that think the police are sitting around with nothing to do, and that when a "crime has been committed", especially one with stronger civil verses criminal overtones, that Dudley Dooright is able to devote all necessary time and taxpayer dollars to pursuing it, need to get out of La La Land. C'mon folks. Pony up the effort. There is no guarantee that your effort will put Chris Johnson behind bars, or at least put him in front of a magistrate. But if you do nothing, I can guarantee he never sees a courtroom. My thanks to those six who have made the effort. My continued thanks to all who have kept the topic alive, and provided all the updates.
 
DSsuper92 said:
I'm not very familiar with how all of this works. Why does it matter how many depositions Investigator Brown receives? If he receives five or five hundred hasn't a crime still been committed? Shouldn't the perpetrator still be persued?

I undertsand that more people makes a better case but what is the cutoff point?

Later,
Dave Schroeder
Click to expand...

If I am not mistaken, the higher the dollar amount the more severe the punishment. I am not sure of the dollar amount, but at a cetain point it turns into a felony.
 
Not sure either Bill and Amy, and I don't think it should be looked at as a "cut off point" Dave. There are numerous thresholds though, whether specific regarding the charges, or just to get the attention and effort you want. The preponderance of the evidence, to include in-part here the volume of complaints, all continues to weight things in the favor of an outcome favoring those who are the plaintiffs. Whether it being stirring law-enforcement to action, motivating a plea by the accused, etc, its all about piling up and documenting as many valid complaints against Chris and TSE as can be legitimately had.
 
I believe it is anything over 2 grand then turns into grand larceny?? Also the chance of taking monies under false pretence. I had to file charges like this on a local mom and pop gun store. I special ordered a gun and paid up front, they could not get the gun I wanted after 2 months of leeway and wouldn't refund the money.. Needless to say I got my money back but had to hire a lawyer.. Good luck everyone!!
 
I can tell you,

if complainants fail to follow through with filing a deposition with the police dept, the police are handcuffed themselves. . It happens all the time. It has nothing to do with the police. Its the DA's office that cannot puruse the case. Complainants fail to show up, refuse , or are intimidated or feel as in this case got their money back and just dont want to get involved any longer. Then you may as well forget about an indictment. Its the DAs office that determines whether their is enough evidence to bring this to trial and whether its worth the effort.

Its nothing for the police to arrest Chris. He would be charged, fingerprinted and bail would be set before a judge. Because this is basically a white collar crime, he would set free on bail. Then the legal system would take it to the next step. An assistant DA would be in charge of handling the case. Thats the way it was when I was making arrests. I dont think it has changed much. I just dont know how much time and effort is involved with internet fraud. It did not exist when I was in the police dept.

At the rate that this investigation is going, its going nowhere! This is for sure a felony, and for sure its a crime that should involve the federal authorities as well because its international in scope. It is also possibly mail fraud or even wire fraud depending on how monies were sent. So their are allot of components to this, and I am sure Officer Brown has all the necessary tools to continue, but this will get buried somewhere if something is not done to increase people to come forward with their complaints and allegations. .
 
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