Coconut Creek Man Accused of Stealing $17K in Messi, Caitlin Clark, Cooper Flagg Cards from His Employer

by Ryan Yousefi October 5, 2026

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Maximo Viani Otoni {BSO}

A Coconut Creek man is accused of stealing more than $17,000 worth of high-end sports cards, including cards featuring Messi, Caitlin Clark, and Cooper Flagg.

According to a Broward County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Maximo Viani Otoni, 22, was arrested on October 1 and charged with grand theft after an investigation into crimes he allegedly committed while working for VIP Rips, a Deerfield Beach company that sells and handles sports memorabilia and trading cards.

The investigation began after a collector requested expedited shipping for a Cooper Flagg card valued at approximately $3,500, according to the arrest report.

When employees could not locate the card, they traced the last person to handle it to Otoni. Surveillance footage from a camera positioned above his workstation allegedly showed Otoni sitting at his desk with the Cooper Flagg card beneath him before moving away, after which the card could no longer be seen.

An employee confronted Otoni about the missing card, and authorities said he admitted taking it and leaving it in his mailbox. The card was later recovered.

According to investigators, Otoni then disclosed that he had three additional VIP Rips cards at his Coconut Creek home: a Lionel Messi card valued at approximately $2,200, another Messi card valued at about $70, and an ungraded Neymar and Ronaldo autographed card estimated to be worth between $1,500 and $2,000.

Deputies later went to Otoni’s home, where authorities said he confessed and gave investigators permission to recover additional cards from his bedroom.

Six more cards belonging to VIP Rips were found, authorities said, including a Trevor Lawrence card valued at $1,900, an Anthony Edwards card worth $1,500, a Caitlin Clark autographed card worth $1,500, another Cooper Flagg card worth $2,200, a Dirk Nowitzki card valued at $2,300, and an autographed Raphinha card worth approximately $50.

Investigators estimated the combined value of the recovered cards at approximately $16,720 and $17,220.

Otoni was arrested and transported to the Broward County Main Jail.

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.