DA: Wichita pawnbroker failed to return property
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The district attorney says a Wichita pawnbroker will have to pay more than $23,000 for engaging in “deceptive and unconscionable acts.”
District Attorney Marc Bennett says a customer complained about Ethan Ma, who was doing business as 1st Gold at Hillside and Pawnee.
The customer said she pawned jewelry in August of 2022 to get a $300 loan. She said she made the appropriate payments. When she contacted Ma to get the jewelry back, he allegedly told her he no longer had the jewelry.
The DA’s Consumer Protection Division says the customer had receipts.
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The investigators allegedly found that 1st Gold failed to provide a contract to the customer, had no record of the transaction, and that 1st Gold’s pawnbroker license expired in December 2021.
Court documents say the customer estimated her jewelry was valued at up to $2,000. The DA’s office says it demanded that Ma refund the customer, but Ma refused.
The Consumer Protection Division says Ma violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.
Judge Stephen Ternes signed a default judgment against Ma. It calls for him to pay $23,197. $2,000 of that is for the customer. The rest is for civil penalties, court costs and investigation fees.
The court also ordered Ma to refrain from engaging in consumer transactions in Kansas until he is properly licensed and has paid the restitution, costs and fees.
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The district attorney’s office advises people to be careful when pawning valuable items, especially those with sentimental value.
In the City of Wichita, all pawnbrokers must be licensed, and the license must be posted in a conspicuous place near the entrance. Also, each loan must have a written contract, and the borrower must get a copy.
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