Three adults have been charged with forgery, theft and other charges related to the sale of fake memorabilia signed by Jason Kelce.
Robert Capone, LeeAnn Branco and Joseph Parenti allegedly forged Kelce’s signature on more than 1,100 items of memorabilia valued at at least $200,000 in total.
Capone’s Overtime Promotions and Parent’s Diamond Legends sold T-shirts, mini helmets, hats, photographs, soccer balls and other items after being verified by Branco, an employee of Beckett Authentication Services, according to the documents.
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Jason Kelce (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images/File)
Kelce himself appeared at a signing event on June 11 at the Valley Forge Casino Hotel near Philadelphia, where Kelce played 13 seasons with the Eagles. Branco took a photo of Kelce to make the items look more legitimate.
Police were notified by a Pennsylvania-based memorabilia company that had been in contact with Kelce about signing the items.
“The investigation found that Capone, Parenti and Branco conspired to use Branco’s Beckett Authentication Services credentials to create counterfeit autographed sports memorabilia and then offered them for sale as products authentically contracted and signed by Kelce,” authorities said in a press release.
Jason Kelce (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images/File)
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Capone, Branco and Parenti are charged with 60 felonies. Capone was released from jail after posting $100,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 5.
Kelce is in his first season as a former player after winning a Super Bowl, making the Pro Bowl seven times and being named first-team All-Pro six times.
Kelce’s former Eagles are in the NFC Championship Game for the second time in three years and the third time since the 2017 season. The Birds won both contests, but split their last Super Bowl appearances.
Jason Kelce (Image/File by Kevin Jairaj-Imagn)
The Eagles need to beat the Washington Commanders for the third time this season if they want to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs or the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl LIX. Kansas City defeated the Eagles in the Super Bowl two years ago as the first half of their back-to-back reign.
