Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Georgia man gets prison for Masters Tournament ticket scheme

Written by 
Published in Golf
Tuesday, 15 September 2020 01:43

UGUSTA, Ga. – A Georgia man was sentenced Monday to more than two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a scheme that used stolen identities to obtain tickets to the Masters Tournament.

Federal prosecutors say Stephen Michael Freeman, 42, of Athens, and three family members in Texas sold those tickets for a profit.

U.S. District Court Judge Randall Hall in the tournament's hometown of Augusta sentenced Freeman to 28 months in prison. More than a year had passed since Freeman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. His parents and a sister also entered guilty pleas last year and were sentenced to three years on probation.

As part of their plea deals, the family members agreed to pay a total of nearly $275,500 in restitution. A news release from U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine's office did not say how many tickets the family obtained or how much they profited from them.

Federal prosecutors said the family used stolen IDs from 2013-17 to cheat the lottery system that distributes tournament tickets and to circumvent Augusta National Golf Club's rules allowing people to apply only once to enter its ticket lottery.

The family purchased bulk mailing lists to obtain names and addresses of people that were used to create fake accounts for Augusta National's online ticket lottery, according to the court documents filed in April by federal prosecutors. Those accounts were submitted with email addresses controlled by Freeman and his relatives.

The family would then ask Augusta National to change the addresses associated with the bogus accounts, using ''false driver licenses, false utility bills and false credit card statements in the identity of the fake user accounts'' sent by mail, the court documents said. That would ensure any tickets won through the lottery would be mailed to addresses where Freeman and his relatives would receive them, prosecutors said.

Read 176 times

Soccer

Ronaldo, 39, wants to to defy age, continue career

Ronaldo, 39, wants to to defy age, continue career

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo has said he has no plans of slowing down at the a...

Source: Tuchel open to stay, wary of Man Utd snub

Source: Tuchel open to stay, wary of Man Utd snub

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThomas Tuchel is open to remaining as Bayern Munich coach amid conc...

Ederson ruled out for title decider, FA Cup final

Ederson ruled out for title decider, FA Cup final

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsEderson will miss Manchester City's last Premier League game as wel...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Bickerstaff future a question for Cavs; Mitchell, too

Bickerstaff future a question for Cavs; Mitchell, too

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBOSTON -- After Cleveland saw its season end in a 113-98 loss to th...

Luka keeps peace with refs, dominates pivotal G5

Luka keeps peace with refs, dominates pivotal G5

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOKLAHOMA CITY -- Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, quite inte...

Baseball

MLB Power Rankings: The AL and NL Central are rising -- which teams are in our top 10?

MLB Power Rankings: The AL and NL Central are rising -- which teams are in our top 10?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWhile some of the usual players dominate our list, five of our top...

Scherzer to 60-day IL; can't return until May 28

Scherzer to 60-day IL; can't return until May 28

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsARLINGTON, Texas -- Max Scherzer was transferred to the 60-day inju...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated