Well Rail, at least you're honest. Do you know this guy? You scalpers crack me up, 99% of you would crawl over your dead mother to screw your own sister.
Old Bridge ticket broker admits fraud, tax charges
Saturday, September 13, 2003
BY TOM HAYDON
Star-Ledger Staff
An Old Bridge ticket broker who maintained a lavish lifestyle by defrauding
people of hundreds of thousands of dollars now faces a five-year prison
sentence and must return more than $777,000.
John Forrest, 40, pleaded guilty to five charges of credit card fraud and
failing to report and pay sales taxes on ticket sales made from his Route 9
business, Tri-State Ticket Exchange, in Old Bridge Township from late 1998
through part of this year.
Standing before Superior Court Judge Phillip Paley in New Brunswick
yesterday, Forrest admitted selling tickets to concerts and sports events,
and never sending the tickets to his customers or sending tickets of lesser
value. Forrest also took customers' credit card numbers for tickets, and
then charged the credit card twice for the same purchase.
"We suffered. He caused a lot of aggravation," said Bloomfield resident
Nicholas Borrelli, who said he was charged $1,400 for tickets to a Rolling
Stones concert that should have cost half that. Instead of getting the good
seats ordered, Borrelli ended up in a standing-room section at the back of
Madison Square Garden.
Borrelli said that when he complained, Forrest became "arrogant."
"When I told him I was going to call police, he said, 'Go ahead. I'll
dial the number for you.' He said Old Bridge police could never touch him,"
Borrelli said when contacted at home after the court hearing.
"(Forrest) got what he deserved. I'm glad they're going to put him
away," Borrelli said.
Old Bridge police arrested Forrest three times from October through
December last year, charging him with defrauding more than 30 customers. In
December, the state Attorney General's Office took over the investigation.
This is the third time the state forced Forrest into court. In November
2000, he resolved a civil complaint from the state Division of Consumer
Affairs by agreeing to make restitution to three customers and agreeing to
stop selling tickets to concerts or sporting events in New Jersey.
In October 2001, Forrest pleaded guilty in Monmouth County for allegedly
defrauding a company out of $700,000. He agreed to repay $550,000 and was
placed on five years' probation.
State officials accused Forrest of violating his agreement to stop selling
tickets to events in New Jersey. Earlier this year, state consumer affairs
officials said they had 47 outstanding complaints against Forrest.
Authorities said he was operating under several business names in New York,
but all the telephones in those businesses were routed to his office in Old Bridge.
Deputy Attorney General Edward Brady, appearing in court yesterday, said
Forrest owed sales taxes in eight states. Forrest also faces an Oct. 3
hearing in Monmouth County for violating the terms of his probation for his
2001 conviction.
Brady recommended that any prison sentence for the probation violation be
served concurrently with the sentence for the five credit fraud and tax
evasion charges. Brady said the state recommended a lesser sentence because
the goal was to recoup customers' money and stop Forrest from operating.
Forrest must make at least $250,000 in restitution and $77,000 in back
taxes when he is sentenced Jan. 9. The rest of the money he owes will be
repaid at a later date.
As part of the plea agreement, Forrest will once again be prohibited from
selling tickets in New Jersey and selling tickets to any New Jersey events.
Newark lawyer Clifford Lazzaro, representing Forrest, said his client kept
selling tickets because "he was trying to maintain an excessive lifestyle."
Lazzaro said Forrest will have to sell his $1.2 million Colts Necks home to
pay his debts, make restitution and pay the taxes. He's agreed to make payment in full and he will be left with nothing," Lazzaro said.
Old Bridge ticket broker admits fraud, tax charges
Saturday, September 13, 2003
BY TOM HAYDON
Star-Ledger Staff
An Old Bridge ticket broker who maintained a lavish lifestyle by defrauding
people of hundreds of thousands of dollars now faces a five-year prison
sentence and must return more than $777,000.
John Forrest, 40, pleaded guilty to five charges of credit card fraud and
failing to report and pay sales taxes on ticket sales made from his Route 9
business, Tri-State Ticket Exchange, in Old Bridge Township from late 1998
through part of this year.
Standing before Superior Court Judge Phillip Paley in New Brunswick
yesterday, Forrest admitted selling tickets to concerts and sports events,
and never sending the tickets to his customers or sending tickets of lesser
value. Forrest also took customers' credit card numbers for tickets, and
then charged the credit card twice for the same purchase.
"We suffered. He caused a lot of aggravation," said Bloomfield resident
Nicholas Borrelli, who said he was charged $1,400 for tickets to a Rolling
Stones concert that should have cost half that. Instead of getting the good
seats ordered, Borrelli ended up in a standing-room section at the back of
Madison Square Garden.
Borrelli said that when he complained, Forrest became "arrogant."
"When I told him I was going to call police, he said, 'Go ahead. I'll
dial the number for you.' He said Old Bridge police could never touch him,"
Borrelli said when contacted at home after the court hearing.
"(Forrest) got what he deserved. I'm glad they're going to put him
away," Borrelli said.
Old Bridge police arrested Forrest three times from October through
December last year, charging him with defrauding more than 30 customers. In
December, the state Attorney General's Office took over the investigation.
This is the third time the state forced Forrest into court. In November
2000, he resolved a civil complaint from the state Division of Consumer
Affairs by agreeing to make restitution to three customers and agreeing to
stop selling tickets to concerts or sporting events in New Jersey.
In October 2001, Forrest pleaded guilty in Monmouth County for allegedly
defrauding a company out of $700,000. He agreed to repay $550,000 and was
placed on five years' probation.
State officials accused Forrest of violating his agreement to stop selling
tickets to events in New Jersey. Earlier this year, state consumer affairs
officials said they had 47 outstanding complaints against Forrest.
Authorities said he was operating under several business names in New York,
but all the telephones in those businesses were routed to his office in Old Bridge.
Deputy Attorney General Edward Brady, appearing in court yesterday, said
Forrest owed sales taxes in eight states. Forrest also faces an Oct. 3
hearing in Monmouth County for violating the terms of his probation for his
2001 conviction.
Brady recommended that any prison sentence for the probation violation be
served concurrently with the sentence for the five credit fraud and tax
evasion charges. Brady said the state recommended a lesser sentence because
the goal was to recoup customers' money and stop Forrest from operating.
Forrest must make at least $250,000 in restitution and $77,000 in back
taxes when he is sentenced Jan. 9. The rest of the money he owes will be
repaid at a later date.
As part of the plea agreement, Forrest will once again be prohibited from
selling tickets in New Jersey and selling tickets to any New Jersey events.
Newark lawyer Clifford Lazzaro, representing Forrest, said his client kept
selling tickets because "he was trying to maintain an excessive lifestyle."
Lazzaro said Forrest will have to sell his $1.2 million Colts Necks home to
pay his debts, make restitution and pay the taxes. He's agreed to make payment in full and he will be left with nothing," Lazzaro said.
PIPE, nice pic, lol.
Here's a female perspective. Ben is cute, lol, and smart and a good actor. How did he end up with that dimwitted latina puppet who can't sing or act? There are so many talemted entertainers in this country. How the hell do some of these posers become millionaire celebrities. That tramp has a lot of nerve to walk around like she's hot shit when she's the product of record company spin doctors.
And I have a way better booty.
Here's a female perspective. Ben is cute, lol, and smart and a good actor. How did he end up with that dimwitted latina puppet who can't sing or act? There are so many talemted entertainers in this country. How the hell do some of these posers become millionaire celebrities. That tramp has a lot of nerve to walk around like she's hot shit when she's the product of record company spin doctors.
And I have a way better booty.
