This time, it wasn't tax evasion that got Capone.
Robert Capone, LeeAnn Branco and Joseph Parenti were charged Wednesday in relation to a scheme to sell merchandise with forged Jason Kelce signatures. They were charged with 60 felony counts "including forgery, theft by deception, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful practices, deceptive business practices and other charges."
Here's what the trio allegedly did, per the report from Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Upper Merion Police Chief Blaine Leis:
"The investigation found that Capone, Parenti and Branco conspired to use Branco's Beckett Authentication Services credentials to create counterfeit autographed sports memorabilia and then offer it to sale as authentically contracted-for products signed by Kelce.
"Branco and Parenti attended the legitimate signing event on June 11, 2024 at the Valley Forge Casino Hotel, and Branco secured a photo with Kelce in order to validate her in-the-presence authentication of the forged memorabilia that was never actually signed by Kelce. Capone further attended the event to receive some authentic memorabilia while keeping other memorabilia off-site for later forgeries and sale.
"The certificate of authenticity issued by Branco induced the sale of unauthorized, inauthentic Kelce-autographed memorabilia without his consent, causing financial loss for Kelce, THC Humphreys LLC and others at approximately $200,000."
Capone, 51, is the owner of "Overtime Productions." His mugshot is at the top of the article, and if you didn't know better, you'd think he was wearing an Eagles hoody. At the time of the release Wednesday, Branco and Gallagher hadn't yet been arraigned, but were expected to turn themselves in.
Capone was released Wednesday on $100,000 bail, with his preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 5.
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