CINCINNATI – A judge called a man who scalped phony Bengals tickets a “predator” and “danger to society" before sentencing him to 180 days in jail and 400 hours of community service Thursday.
Mario Riep, 36, of West Chester, made the bogus tickets for the Bengals’ wild card game against Pittsburgh last January, according to police. He advertised the tickets on Craigslist.
After a suspicious potential buyer tipped off police, undercover officers arranged to buy the tickets from Riep for $500. The officers found that the price on the tickets wasn’t valid and the barcode wouldn’t scan properly.
The arresting officer's report states that they found several other fake Bengals tickets in Riep's car.
Riep pleaded guilty to forgery last month. In court Wednesday, he said he learned his lesson.
"I made a mistake, and I promise you will never ever see me again," he told the judge.
