A New Jersey man has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the 2017 Super Bowl ring scam per the Department Of Justice.
Scott V. Spina Jr. of Roseland, N.J. was sentenced on Monday (Aug. 29) in an Orange County, California court and ordered to pay back a former New England Patriots player, identified in court papers as “T.J.,” $63,000 in restitution.
The scam began back in 2017 when Spina purchased the 2016 Patriots Super Bowl ring, using a bad check, from T.J., who left the team. Spina then sold the ring for $63,000 to a “well-known broker of championship rings,” the DOJ said.
“When Spina obtained the player ring, he also received the information that allowed the former player to purchase Super Bowl rings for family and friends that are slightly smaller than the player rings,” according to the release.
Spina then called the company that made the rings, claimed to be the former player, and ordered three rings with “Brady” engraved on them saying that they were gifts to nephews of then-quarterback Tom Brady. He then tried to sell them to the Orange County broker who bought the ring. While the ring broker originally agreed to buy the three rings for $81,500 the buyer began to doubt Spina’s story and decided to back out of the deal, according to the DOJ.
Spina later sold them to an auction house for $100,000, and one of the rings was eventually sold for $337,219 at a February 2018 auction.
Spina pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft on February 1. In his plea agreement, Spina admitted that he defrauded the ring broker.
“He accepts responsibility for his actions,” Spina’s attorney Thomas Ambrosio, said Tuesday (Aug. 30), according to The New York Times. “He is disappointed in the fact that he has to go back to prison.”
Back in 2018, Spina was sentenced to 35 months in prison for committing wire fraud in an unrelated crime where he sold high-end sneakers, per the outlet.
13 Tailgating Essentials You Can’t Skip Out On
Pop Up Canopy
You need a pop-up canopy. Trust me, if you’re trying to talk yourself out of it for any reason I highly recommend having one. The pop-up canopy tent will help keep you out of the sun and rain in the event it happens. Sitting in the sun during the tailgate and then again when you’re in the stadium, while you’re drinking, is a bad combo. It tends to result in dehydration and possible medical issues. Keep yourself and your food in the shade.
Inflatable Coolers
I have two options on this list for you for keeping food and drinks cold! The first are these inflatable coolers. They work well for keeping things like pasta salad or other cold food items that you want out when you’re tailgating.
Crock Pot
All hail the Crock Pot! Whether it’s sloppy joes, buffalo chicken dip, or some other warm yummy goodness the crock pot is one of my favorite tailgating essentials. You and I both know you’re going to be eating before the game, so keep your food warm with an easy slow cooker!
Portable Power Station
Anytime I’ve gone tailgating and needed power I have always relied on a portable generator of some kind. This power station is solar–powered and has a pure Sine Wave AC outlet (110V 200W 400W Peak), 2* USB-A ports (5V, 2.4A), and 1* 12V DC carport. So you can make sure your phone and other essentials stay charged without having to turn your car on.
Camping Table with Storage
Not only is this a great tailgating essential, but it can be used anytime you go camping! I love having a camping table like this while I’m tailgating because it gives you a spot for storage for things like plates and plasticware, as well as a spot to lay out all the food!
Bluetooth Speaker
You will want a Bluetooth speaker. You’re going to want to avoid using your car’s sound system for your tailgating playlist because you might end up needing a jump after the game. This JBL speaker is one of my favorites. It’s waterproof and the sound quality/volume level is pretty great! It comes in 12 different color choices too.
A Cooler with Ample Space
Most people tailgate in a group, which means lots of food and drinks. To keep all of that cold, I recommend getting a cooler with a good amount of storage space. This 62–quart cooler from Coleman holds up to 95 cans! It can also double as a seat when you’re not reaching in to grab things.
Clear Crossbody Bag
For all of my friends out there who need a bag, a clear crossbody bag is the way to go. A lot of stadiums have restrictions nowadays that say you need a clear bag. This one has an adjustable strap and will fit your wallet, keys, phone, sanitizer, masks, basically everything you might want to take into the stadium with you.
Condiment Caddy
Hotdogs and hamburgers are the staple food of tailgating. They’re quick, easy, and delicious. But if you’re like me I’m sure you love adding a few condiments to your burgers and dogs. This condiment caddy has five spots for whatever you need chilled and includes tongs and serving spoons. The best part is that the compartment below is designed so you can put it all on ice!
Food Caddies
I tend to avoid paper plates when I’m tailgating and it’s usually because they never hold enough for me. These food caddies are great because there is a compartment for your drink and they’re foldable, so once you’re done using it you can fold it right up.
Portable Grill
You can’t forget the grill. Having a portable grill for your tailgating is huge! This charcoal tabletop grill is easy to use and easy to carry. Plus it will make a great addition to your camping gear.
Storage Drawers
Okay if you’ve never thought about storage drawers for your tailgating essentials I can’t wait to open your mind to it! These are so great for storage. I’m talking about how you can put all of your grill gear, condiments, paperware, speaker, etc. In these convenient drawers. It makes packing so much easier too.
Cornhole
And you can’t forget the cornhole boards! Playing cornhole before the game is a ton of fun and if you’re looking for a way to make sure you kill time before the game, this is the way to go.
Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create? Drop us a line at shopping@bbgi.com.
