Feds: Memorabilia dealer sold fake jerseys
Federal prosecutors say a Minnesota-based sports memorabilia dealer peddled phony baseball jerseys, falsely claiming that major leaguers like Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols had worn them on game day.
The dealer, Steven Jensen, 40, of Osseo, was arrested Thursday at a sports collectors convention on charges of mail and wire fraud in the scheme, which dates back to at least July 2007 and continued until last month, according to a copy of a complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan.
The scheme came to light after the buyer of a $3,015.07 1995 Seattle Mariners Rodriguez jersey from Jensen's Vintage Authentics LLC later tried to get the player to autograph it. An on-site inspector looked at the stitching of the nameplate, concluded the jersey was fake and wouldn't let Rodriguez sign it.
Federal investigators became involved after Jensen refused to give a full refund. After the company said it would re-auction the jersey to another collector, investigators marked it with fluorescent invisible marking pen, had it sent back, then later bid on it using an undercover account.
Authorities said Jensen would routinely re-auction returned merchandise as authentic.
The sting continued with the McGwire and Pujols jerseys, leading to Jensen's arrest, authorities said.
Information on whether bail was set in Jensen's case wasn't immediately available Thursday night.
Jensen couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.
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