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Former internet sports memorabilia business owner pleads guilty to $2.5 million fraud scheme

HARRISBURG, Pa.  – Joshua Aaron Shores, age 41, of Bel Air, Maryland and also of Ocean City, Maryland, and former owner of a group of internet sports memo...
GUILTY PLEA

HARRISBURG, Pa.  – Joshua Aaron Shores, age 41, of Bel Air, Maryland and also of Ocean City, Maryland, and former owner of a group of internet sports memorabilia businesses pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, in Harrisburg, to a $2.5 million dollar fraud scheme.

 
The Criminal Information was filed in January 2016 pursuant to a plea agreement entered into between the United States and Shores. The agreement, which is subject to the approval by the court, includes joint recommendations relating to loss amounts, forfeiture allegations, and an agreement to pay restitution as determined by the court. Judge Jones ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed, and no sentencing date has been scheduled.

 
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Shores pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud based upon Shores’ five-year scheme, between 2008 and 2013, to obtain money and property by dealing in counterfeit and fraudulent sports memorabilia. Shores created, owned, and operated internet businesses under the names of Dealakhan, LLC, Stadium Authentics, Autograph Showcase, Sunset Beach, End Game Sports, Authenticgraph, and others with facilities in York County, and in Maryland, and used the businesses to traffic in counterfeit and fraudulent sports memorabilia.

 
Shores represented addresses of mailbox receiving services to customers as his business address, created and registered PayPal and Amazon.com accounts in his name and in the names of others to receive payments from customers, purchased counterfeit sports jerseys in bulk from China and affixed fraudulent autographs to them representing them to be authentic autographs of well-known athletes and sports figures, and also using fake certificates of authenticity. According to the Criminal Information, Shores unlawfully obtained approximately $2.5 million dollars from buyers of the fraudulent items.

 
The Criminal Information also seeks forfeiture of real property located in Ocean City, Maryland, approximately $140,000 in cash, and an additional amount of $26,000 in proceeds related to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a sports utility vehicle. The government will also seek restitution for victims of the fraud scheme.

The charge of Wire Fraud is punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.

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