3 Arrested in Stolen Ticket Scheme
Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation have arrested three Allegheny County residents accused of conspiring to steal and resell tickets to popular concerts at the Benedum Center, in Pittsburgh, as well as using stolen credit card information to purchase tickets for later sale.
Corbett identified the defendants as Anthony Vaughn Davis, 50, and Madge L. Hayes, 47, both of 4422 Sweetbay St., Pittsburgh, and Robert Patrick Conderato, 38, 3326 Cambria St., Munhall.
Corbett said that Davis allegedly used his position as a call center employee at the Benedum Center to intercept tickets that had been purchased for popular shows such as the Lion King, Australian Pink Floyd and Dolly Patron. The tickets were sold for cash using Internet classified ads on the Craigslist website, with the assistance of Davis’ fiancé, Hayes, who allegedly used home and work computers to communicate with potential buyers.
According to the criminal complaint, Davis is also accused of stealing credit card information from consumers who had called the Benedum Center to place ticket orders. Davis and Hayes allegedly used the stolen credit card information to order additional tickets for use in their sales scheme.
“Using stolen tickets and online classified ads, these scam artists tried to cash-in on popular or sold-out concerts and shows,” Corbett said. “In many cases, consumers had no idea they were victims of a scam until they were refused entry to an event, or until they discovered unauthorized ticket purchases on their credit card statements.”
Corbett said Conderato, who was an acquaintance of Davis, allegedly assisted the operation by delivering tickets to Craigslist buyers, meeting them at various locations throughout the Pittsburgh area. Conderato and Davis allegedly split the proceeds from these sales.
The scheme was initially reported to the Franklin Park Police Department by a consumer who had purchased concert tickets through a Craigslist ad but was denied entry to the event because the tickets had been reported missing by the original buyer and had been reissued. The case was referred to the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which began a formal probe in February 2008.
Corbett said a May 2008 search of the home shared by Davis and Hayes resulted in the seizure of 25 unused tickets for various concerts and shows, valued at more than $1,700, along with numerous ticket envelopes and duplicate ticket request forms. Additionally, agents also discovered an organizer that included hand-written notes listing the credit card numbers, names and addresses of at least eight consumers.
According to the criminal complaint, agents from the Attorney General’s Office reviewed recorded incoming calls placed to the Benedum Center operators and identified Hayes and Davis as placing at least five telephone orders for tickets, using the stolen credit card information that was located during the search of their home.
Corbett said that agents have identified and interviewed at least eight consumers whose names and credit card information may have been misused in this scheme. Additional consumers who purchased tickets to events at the Benedum Center and have information about the unauthorized use of their credit card numbers should contact the Pittsburgh regional office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, at 412-565-5339.
Corbett said that Davis, Hayes and Conderato were all arrested on Tuesday, January 27th, by agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, assisted by officers from the Pittsburgh and Munhall police departments.
Davis and Hayes are both charged with felony offenses, including identity theft, unlawful use of a computer and criminal conspiracy, along with misdemeanor counts of theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and access device fraud.
Conderato is charged with felony counts of unlawful use of a computer and criminal conspiracy, along with misdemeanor counts of theft by deception and theft by unlawful taking.
The defendants were taken to Allegheny County Central Court for preliminary arraignments. Preliminary hearings will be scheduled at a later date.
Corbett thanked the Franklin Park, McCandless, Pittsburgh and Munhall police departments, along with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Corbett encouraged all consumers to carefully review their monthly credit card and bank card statement for any signs of unauthorized activity and to immediately report fraudulent activity. Information about protecting yourself against these types of crimes is available in the Identity Theft Toolkit section of the Attorney General’s website, at www.attorneygeneral.gov (Highlight the “Consumers” button in the main website menu and select “Identity Theft Toolkit).
Corbett identified the defendants as Anthony Vaughn Davis, 50, and Madge L. Hayes, 47, both of 4422 Sweetbay St., Pittsburgh, and Robert Patrick Conderato, 38, 3326 Cambria St., Munhall.
Corbett said that Davis allegedly used his position as a call center employee at the Benedum Center to intercept tickets that had been purchased for popular shows such as the Lion King, Australian Pink Floyd and Dolly Patron. The tickets were sold for cash using Internet classified ads on the Craigslist website, with the assistance of Davis’ fiancé, Hayes, who allegedly used home and work computers to communicate with potential buyers. According to the criminal complaint, Davis is also accused of stealing credit card information from consumers who had called the Benedum Center to place ticket orders. Davis and Hayes allegedly used the stolen credit card information to order additional tickets for use in their sales scheme.
“Using stolen tickets and online classified ads, these scam artists tried to cash-in on popular or sold-out concerts and shows,” Corbett said. “In many cases, consumers had no idea they were victims of a scam until they were refused entry to an event, or until they discovered unauthorized ticket purchases on their credit card statements.”
Corbett said Conderato, who was an acquaintance of Davis, allegedly assisted the operation by delivering tickets to Craigslist buyers, meeting them at various locations throughout the Pittsburgh area. Conderato and Davis allegedly split the proceeds from these sales.The scheme was initially reported to the Franklin Park Police Department by a consumer who had purchased concert tickets through a Craigslist ad but was denied entry to the event because the tickets had been reported missing by the original buyer and had been reissued. The case was referred to the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which began a formal probe in February 2008.
Corbett said a May 2008 search of the home shared by Davis and Hayes resulted in the seizure of 25 unused tickets for various concerts and shows, valued at more than $1,700, along with numerous ticket envelopes and duplicate ticket request forms. Additionally, agents also discovered an organizer that included hand-written notes listing the credit card numbers, names and addresses of at least eight consumers.According to the criminal complaint, agents from the Attorney General’s Office reviewed recorded incoming calls placed to the Benedum Center operators and identified Hayes and Davis as placing at least five telephone orders for tickets, using the stolen credit card information that was located during the search of their home.
Corbett said that agents have identified and interviewed at least eight consumers whose names and credit card information may have been misused in this scheme. Additional consumers who purchased tickets to events at the Benedum Center and have information about the unauthorized use of their credit card numbers should contact the Pittsburgh regional office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, at 412-565-5339.
Corbett said that Davis, Hayes and Conderato were all arrested on Tuesday, January 27th, by agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, assisted by officers from the Pittsburgh and Munhall police departments.
Davis and Hayes are both charged with felony offenses, including identity theft, unlawful use of a computer and criminal conspiracy, along with misdemeanor counts of theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and access device fraud.
Conderato is charged with felony counts of unlawful use of a computer and criminal conspiracy, along with misdemeanor counts of theft by deception and theft by unlawful taking.
The defendants were taken to Allegheny County Central Court for preliminary arraignments. Preliminary hearings will be scheduled at a later date.
Corbett thanked the Franklin Park, McCandless, Pittsburgh and Munhall police departments, along with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Corbett encouraged all consumers to carefully review their monthly credit card and bank card statement for any signs of unauthorized activity and to immediately report fraudulent activity. Information about protecting yourself against these types of crimes is available in the Identity Theft Toolkit section of the Attorney General’s website, at www.attorneygeneral.gov (Highlight the “Consumers” button in the main website menu and select “Identity Theft Toolkit).
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