PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Three people are accused to trying to pass off phony memorabilia to collectors by forging Eagles legend Jason Kelce’s signature.
Robert Capone, 51, of Philadelphia worked with LeeAnn Branco, 43, and Joseph Parenti, 39, of Rhode Island on a scheme to move about $200,000 worth of merchandise purportedly signed by Jason Kelce, according to the Montgomery County DA’s office.
Branco verified more than 1,100 pieces of memorabilia with phony signatures—like jerseys, hats and footballs—as an employee of Beckett Authentication Services, and the other two sold them at companies they owned, according to the D.A.’s office.
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They were allegedly passing the items off as part of a private signing event on June 11 and 12 of last year at Valley Forge Casino Hotel.
Officials say the three suspects went to that signing, and Branco took a photo with Kelce to validate her in-the-presence authentications.
But the Royersford company that contracted Kelce for the event tipped police off about the forgeries.
The three suspects are charged with 60 felony counts, including forgery and theft by deception. Capone was arraigned Wednesday and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for February. Authorities expect the other two to turn themselves in to Montgomery County Detectives.