A New Jersey man was sentenced to three years in prison on Monday for selling three Super Bowl rings engraved with Tom Brady’s last name, according to a report.
In 2017, Scott V. Spina Jr., 25, posed as a New England Patriots player to purchase Brady’s Super Bowl LI ring with a counterfeit check. In addition to the three-year sentence, Spina Jr., of Roseland, will also have to pay $63,000 in restitution to the former Patriots player he swindled, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. In May, Spina Jr pleaded guilty in California federal court to mail fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, The Post reported at the time.
According to federal prosecutors, Spina Jr later sold the band for $63,000 to a noted broker of championship NFL rings.
After purchasing that piece, Spina also received tips about how the ex-New England athlete could buy replica Super Bowl rings for family and friends. Spina received information that the athlete was looking to buy replica Super Bowl rings that were slightly smaller than those awarded to players.
The fraudster subsequently contacted the ring company, posing as the former athlete, and purchased three family and friend Super Bowl LI bands engraved with the name “Brady,” according to The Post. Spina then falsely presented the rings as gifts for the baby of football quarterback Tom Brady, court documents show.
However federal prosecutors said the rings were at no time authorized by Tom Brady. Rather, Spina intended to “obtain the three rings by fraud and to sell them at a substantial profit.”
Spina later sold the jewelry for $100,000 to an auction house. One of the rings sold at auction for $337,219.