A New Jersey man was sentenced to 3 years in federal jail on Monday for posing as a former New England Patriots participant with a view to purchase and promote household variations of 2016 Super Bowl rings whereas claiming they have been presents to Tom Brady’s household.
One of many rings he offered at public sale went for greater than $337,000, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Scott V. Spina Jr. from Roseland, N.J. started the scheme in 2017 when he bought a Tremendous Bowl LI ring from a former Patriots participant. He scammed the participant — recognized solely as T.J. — by paying for the ring with no less than one unhealthy verify. Spina, 25, offered the ring to a well known dealer of championship rings in Orange County for $63,000 quickly after.
Based on a memorandum from Spina’s lawyer, T.J. was the one who reached out to Spina to promote his ring as a result of he wanted the cash. They met by a enterprise Spina began at age 15 by which he offered sneakers and sports activities memorabilia.
The Division of Justice stated that when he obtained the ring, Spina additionally obtained the data that allowed him to buy Tremendous Bowl rings which are supplied solely to household and associates of the Pats, that are barely smaller than the participant rings.
“Spina then referred to as the Ring Firm, fraudulently recognized himself as [the former player only identified as T.J.], and began ordering three household and pal Tremendous Bowl LI rings with the identify ‘Brady’ engraved on each, which he falsely represented have been presents for the child of quarterback Tom Brady,” in accordance with courtroom paperwork and the Division of Justice.
“The rings have been at no time licensed by Tom Brady. Defendant Spina meant to acquire the three rings by fraud and to promote them at a considerable revenue.”
Spina tried to promote the rings to the identical Orange County man who bought T.J.’s Tremendous Bowl ring. He claimed that the three new rings had belonged to Brady’s nephews. The customer was going to buy them for $81,500, however then withdrew from the deal as a result of he began to doubt Spina’s story.
Based on the memorandum, Spina had already collected a $6,500 deposit.
Shortly after, in November 2017, Spina offered the three engraved rings to an public sale home for $100,000, which was about thrice what he initially paid. A type of rings was auctioned for $337,219 in February 2018.
On Feb. 1, 2022, Spina pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. This was not his first time committing a criminal offense. Spina was launched from jail in 2020 after serving a 35-month for an unrelated write fraud.
