Crime Ring Targeted Free Tickets Meant For Disadvantaged Kids

Pennsylvania State Police announced charges against six individuals allegedly involved in a complex fraud scheme that diverted free event tickets meant for disadvantaged children and instead resold them for personal profit.

The investigation uncovered a years-long operation targeting Tickets for Kids Charities, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that provides free event tickets to underserved youth.

Elaborate Fraud Scheme

“The individuals and companies that were being charged exploited Tickets for Kids by utilizing other non-profit organizations to obtain those free donated tickets,” investigators revealed during a Thursday press conference, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

The scheme involved requesting tickets under the guise of serving disadvantaged children, but instead of distributing them to those in need, the perpetrators allegedly resold the tickets on secondary markets for substantial profits.

Sports Teams Assisted Investigation

State troopers worked closely with local professional sports teams during the investigation, conducting undercover operations to verify who was actually using the donated seats.

“We worked really hand in hand, they were great resources. And then troopers go in and say, ‘these aren’t the kids that were supposed to be sitting in these seats,'” State Police spokesperson Trooper Rocco Gagliardi explained, as reported by WTAE Pittsburgh.

Charity Implemented New Safeguards

Brandice Miller, executive director of Tickets for Kids Charities, stated that the organization immediately alerted authorities when they suspected tickets were being misused and has since implemented additional protective measures.

“Those safeguards were bypassed by individuals acting outside our policies. In response, we’ve implemented new measures to protect our mission and ensure every child has access to the opportunities they deserve,” Miller said in a statement.

Charges Reflect Organized Crime

According to state police, the charges against the defendants include corrupt organizations, theft by deception, and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, reflecting the organized nature of the scheme.

Founded in 1994, Tickets for Kids Charities has distributed more than 3.6 million tickets valued at over $83 million to provide experiences for disadvantaged children that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access, according to the organization’s website.