Sportscaster Don Tollefson Pleads Guilty To Fraud Charges
By Brad Segall
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Former television sportscaster Don Tollefson today admitted in court that he ripped off charities and individuals by offering to sell them sports travel packages to big games and then failing to produce the merchandise.
Prosecutors say Tollefson would offer packages to Phillies' spring training, Eagles' away games, and even the Super Bowl. He would offer to split the proceeds between their charity and his charity but, when it came time to produce, he failed.
Looking frail today as he stood in front of the judge, Tollefson, 62, pleaded guilty to theft and related charges for stealing, according to prosecutors, in excess of $300,000 from more than 200 people.
"I think it's a little too early to talk about what the sentence may or may not be," said defense attorney Sharif Abaza after this morning's court proceeding, "but I think it's pertinent for his wellbeing, for his recovery, to make amends."
Tollefson faces a maximum of 37 years behind bars, although sentencing guidelines call for much less.
Tollefson blames years of drug and alcohol addiction for why things spiraled out of control. His application for adjudicatoin of his case in "drug court" was denied. He remains on electronic monitoring.
