While people were packed into Heinz Field for Sunday’s Steelers game, police said an out-of-state man was outside, preying on fans by selling counterfeit tickets.
Police said they received information that people would be pushing counterfeit tickets for the game, so detectives went undercover.
Pittsburgh police arrested Herman Holmes, of Cleveland, at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Sixth Street downtown. Investigators said Holmes was in town selling fake tickets to the Steelers-Giants game that same day.
According to a criminal complaint, an undercover officer purchased two tickets from Holmes for $200 each.
Police said they discovered the forgery because of the number “8” on the ticket. A real ticket has a boxed number 8, while the fake ticket had a rounded 8.
Just two days before the game, the Steelers issued a warning on their website about counterfeit tickets, urging fans to go to NFL Ticket Exchange to buy verified tickets.
Holmes is facing a number of charges, including trademark counterfeiting, theft by deception and forgery. Police said he had four fake tickets.
He remained in the Allegheny County Jail as of Thursday, unable to post bond.
Cox Media Group
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