User:FrostFairBlade/sandbox/Operation Bullpen
Background[edit]
- The FBI first investigated forgery under Operation Foul Ball[1]
- Following a tip, FBI agents Bob Walker and Mike Bassett uncovered a conspiracy to create forged sports memorabilia[2]
- A team would forge the signatures of athletes like the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, and the counterfeit items would have their prices inflated due to distributors colluding with the forgers[3][4]
- 29-year-old Anthony Alyinovich pled guilty in July 1996 to mail fraud;[5] after cooperating with investigators, six additional people were charged[6]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Fake sports memorabilia scam busted". United Press International. 1996-07-11. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Seideman, David (1997-10-20). "Caught in the act of forgery in Chicago, the FBI breaks up a ring trafficking in fake sports memorabilia". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ Cannon, Angie (1997-10-21). "Faking 'em out at the ballpark: Operation Foulball cracks down on counterfeit sports memorabilia". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ Chapin, Dwight; Lewis, Gregory (1996-08-10). "FBI's "Operation Foul Ball' hit a homer for forgery victims". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ Burghart, Tara (1996-07-11). "Man pleads guilty to distributing forged sports items". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ O'Connor, Matt (1997-02-12). "Phony mitt helps FBI put big hurt on suspects". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-25.