Video: Jason Kelce brings pep-rally vibe to Campbell Soup headquarters
Jason Kelce, whose symbol seems on Chunky Soup’s first-ever Legend Edition collectible can, will get an enthusiastic reception at Camden company’s headquarters
Three folks were charged for allegedly conspiring to promote roughly $200,000 in cast sports activities memorabilia.
This allegation covers greater than 1,000 pieces supposedly signed by way of retired Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro heart Jason Kelce, in keeping with government in Montgomery County, Pa.
The accused are an authenticator and the homeowners of 2 sports activities memorabilia companies — together with one that is been doing trade in South Jersey.
The cast pieces have been presented on the market by way of Overtime Promotions and Diamond Legends, owned by way of defendants Robert Capone, 51, of Philadelphia, and Joseph Parenti, 39, of Cranston, RI, respectively.
LeeAnn Branco, 43, of Bristol, RI, an authenticator for Beckett Authentication Services, has additionally been charged.
The Montgomery County detectives and Upper Merion Township police opened an investigation remaining July once they have been alerted by way of the executive for Kelce and his spouse, podcaster Kylie Kelce, that Overtime Promotions used to be purportedly promoting greater than 1,100 cast memorabilia pieces, in keeping with a likely purpose affidavit.
Kelce gave the impression at a Valley Forge Casino Hotel for a memorabilia signing match June 11-12, however government allege that the previous NFL participant, who now gives soccer remark on ESPN, didn’t signal pieces Capone and Parenti had on the market.
Attorney Christopher Caserio, who mentioned he represents Capone, denied the signatures have been cast in an e-mail Thursday.
“The issue is with the certification of the items rather than the authenticity, especially when it comes to my client,” Caserio mentioned within the e-mail.
Through a spokesman on Thursday Parenti alleged that Capone and Overtime Promotions arranged the occasions and he reduced in size with Overtime Promotion prematurely of the signings to ship memorabilia to those signing occasions.
“Mr. Parenti did not forge any memorabilia nor did he direct anyone to forge memorabilia,” mentioned Bill Fischer, of True North Communications. “When Mr. Parenti became aware that there may be issues with the authenticity of the memorabilia in question, he pulled them from the marketplace.”
Overtime Promotions energetic in South Jersey
Overtime Promotions has partnered with the Deptford Mall to assist now not best run memorabilia and sports activities card displays within the Macy’s Center Court, but in addition herald many athletes and actors for meet-and-greets.
The most up-to-date occasions held in South Jersey have been the Fletcher Cox and Brent Celek meet-and-greet on the Deptford Mall and the Zack Baun match at Adelphia’s in Deptford.
Adelphia’s: Mann, Slay meet-and-greet nonetheless deliberate
There is lately an Overtime Promotions match scheduled at Adelphia’s for Jan. 28. The meet-and-greet is to characteristic Philadelphia Eagles punter Braden Mann and cornerback Darius Slay Jr.
A spokesperson for Adelphia’s mentioned the development is lately “to be announced,” however expects it to move on as scheduled.
Social media pages for Overtime Promotions have all however been deactivated, in conjunction with a cleaning of the website online. What as soon as hosted a mess of sports activities and film memorabilia is now barren.
A unmarried poster nonetheless sits at the website online for an upcoming match.
Capone’s lawyer mentioned his consumer Capone denies any wrongdoing and has been in trade for greater than seven years, promoting hundreds of things “without any issues.”
“Overtime Promotions did in fact have items signed at the Jason Kelce signing on June 11th and 12th of last year. The narrative of the story created by the investigating officers is convoluted as it involves two other defendants and all the facts are being lumped together,” he mentioned in an e-mail Thursday. “Overtime Promotions in no way shape or form were ever in possession of any forged memorabilia of Jason Kelce.
“The factor ahead of my consumer isn’t forgery however it’s with the certification of positive pieces that he entrusted with Ms. Branco to certify correctly. “
How police investigated the alleged Kelce forgeries
Authorities were tipped off to the alleged fraud by TCH Humphreys LLC, a sports memorabilia company in Royersford that had contracted with Kelce to conduct official signings of memorabilia at a private event June 11-12 at the Valley Forge Casino Hotel.
Professional Sports Authenticator, the contracted verification service for the event, confirmed the TCH memorabilia items signed by Kelce as legitimate, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators said that Capone and Parenti conspired with Branco to use Branco’s credentials as an authenticator for Beckett Authentication Services to create counterfeit autographed sports memorabilia and offer it for sale as authentic.
Branco and Parenti allegedly attended the Valley Forge Casino signing event, and Branco posed for a photo with Kelce on June 12 to validate her “in-the-presence” authentication of the forged items, detectives said.
Capone also attended the event to pick up some authentic memorabilia, while keeping other memorabilia off-site for later forgeries and sales, according to the district attorney’s office.
The pieces incorporated signed jerseys, bobble heads, helmets, mini-helmets, hats, pictures and footballs jointly valued at $200,000 and issued certificate of authenticity.
What charges are filed in the Jason Kelce forged memorabilia case?
Kelce gave authorities a statement denying that he conducted any separate contracted signings June 11, the affidavit stated. He also said he did not meet with Branco or Parenti for signings.
Capone, Branco and Parenti are each charged with 60 felony counts including forgery, theft by deception, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful practices and deceptive business practices.
On Wednesday, Capone was arraigned on his charges and released on unsecured bail.
Branco and Parenti are expected to turn themselves in to Montgomery County detectives, the district attorney’s office said.
The charges are only allegations. Capone, Branco and Parenti have not been convicted in this case.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, the Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times covering community news in South Jersey. Have any tips or stories? Reach out to NButler@Gannett.com. Subscribe to stay in the loop.
