Consumer Justice: More Fans Claim Cowboys Ticket Ripoff
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DALLAS (CBS11) - Some football fans are out $17,000 after paying a Dallas businesswoman to see the Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers game Thanksgiving Day.
"It's a feeling I can't explain. It's like you've been robbed," said Ariel Simpson from her home in South Carolina.
Simpson acted as the middle man between Cowboys Sports Tours, owned by Ronni Sokol, and a group of 18 fans from North Carolina and South Carolina.
"I considered Ronnie to be a friend, a personal friend. I've done business with her before, as crazy as it sounds I trusted her," said Simpson.
Sokol has been accused of selling bogus ticket packages in the past through her former company Maximum Sports Connection.
Simpson said she never had any issues with Sokol and told her family members and friends she trusted her.
Simposon said the group paid between $700 to $1000 a person for flights, hotel rooms and tickets to the game at At&T Stadium.
The group of fans were all rooting for the Cowboys except one 9 year old Carolina Panthers fan traveling with his Dad.
"He wanted to see Cam Newton for Christmas. In the final hours, I was begging her to help this child and we still got no response. Even for children, she had no compassion," said Simpson.
Torsha Gary-Black also talked to CBS 11 from South Carolina.
"A trip of a lifetime. I worked to save up, to go on this trip," said Gary-Black.
Gary-Black said Sokol didn't tell them everything fell through until the night before they were supposed to fly out.
"She needs to be stopped," said Gary-Black.
The Lachapelle family from Connecticut told CBS 11 last week their out $2400 after paying Cowboys Sports Tours for an all-inclusive package including tickets, a tailgate party and autograph session.
The Texas Attorney General's Office settled a deceptive trade practices suit against Sokol in 2014.
A media representative from the AG's office told CBS 11 they've received two complaints against Sokol since that settlement.
"I wish I could tell these people exactly what happened because they trusted me. I have no answers," said Simpson.
Sokol did not respond to our request for an on-camera interview but through email said Cowboys Sports Tours gave the Lachapelle' s a refund.
However, the Lachapelle family said they are still waiting to be paid back.
Sokol hasn't responded about a refund for the fans from the Carolina's or what happened to their money.
Consumer Justice will be following up.
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