FBI, Chicago Police Seeking Five In Counterfeit Ticket Ring
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As the Cubs and White Sox open their seasons, the FBI and Chicago Police are asking for the public's help in catching suspected counterfeit ticket-sellers.
In February, 16 people were charged with forgery, accused of running a counterfeit ticket scheme for games, concerts, and other events at Soldier Field, the United Center, and the Allstate Arena. Since then, 11 of the defendants have been arrested, but five others remain at large.
The FBI and Chicago Police were coordinating a search for 27-year-old Joseph McKnight, 25-year-old Rodney Pole, 19-year-old Marcus Moore, 30-year-old Rashawn Mays, and 30-year-old Lamont Flowers.
FBI Chicago office spokesman Garrett Croon said the 16 defendants duped fans of the Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks games with fake tickets advertised on Craigslist in the fall and winter of 2015.
"They'd sell the tickets online, and then the victims would get to the arena or the stadium where they thought they were going to attend an event, and realize their tickets were counterfeit," he said.
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Croon said the five men still wanted in the counterfeit ticket ring are documented gang members in Chicago.
In addition to fake tickets to Bears, Blackhawks, and Bulls games, they also allegedly sold counterfeit tickets to Disney on Ice performances, and professional wrestling events in the Chicago area.
Anyone with information about the five suspects should contact the FBI's Chicago field office at 312-421-6700.
