HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that three more conspirators involved in schemes to defraud a Pittsburgh-based charity — Tickets for Kids — have pleaded guilty to felony charges.
Jacob Mazzie, Quan Britt, and a ticket broker company, Steel City Tickets, entered the pleas Thursday in Allegheny County Court.
Mazzie, 27, paid full restitution of $34,119, and will serve two years of probation.
Steel City Tickets will pay a $25,000 fine.
Britt, 49, will be sentenced at a later date.
In all, six individuals and two business entities were charged in schemes, involving more than 22,000 tickets — with combined face values over $760,000.
“These defendants targeted a charity that provided joyous experiences to low-income and at-risk children, and exploited the organization to line their own pockets,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Defendants pleaded guilty today to felony charges and were ordered to make the organization whole, financially.”
Three other defendants pleaded guilty earlier this year. Another defendant, Ramona Wilkes, will be tried on charges, beginning Thursday. The final defendant, Hope 4 Johnstown, has a trial scheduled for August.
The conspirators used business fronts to obtain the free tickets to games and other events, then sold the tickets for lucrative profits.
Mazzie pleaded guilty to felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and criminal use of a communication facility.
Steel City Tickets pleaded guilty to felony dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
Britt pleaded guilty to felony counts of deceptive business practices, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and criminal use of a communication facility.
The cases are being prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s Organized Crime Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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