Tacky Ticket Thieves Surrender To Police

Six months after stealing 262 Super Bowl tickets, a teenager and his alleged accomplice have turned themselves in to police.

James Sabatino, 18, of Boynton Beach, and George LaGuerre, 26, of Miami, surrendered at the Palm Beach County Jail. They’re accused of scamming football fans by selling the stolen tickets for $1,000 each.

“I think they waited so long to turn themselves in because they thought an angry football fan would blow one of their brains out,” said Jim Viola, the men’s bond representative.

Miami Dolphins officials discovered the theft more than a week before the Jan. 29 game and no one holding stolen tickets was allowed to enter Joe Robbie Stadium.

“They paid a lot of money for something, and had to sit outside the stadium,” said NFL spokesman Jim Steeg.

Sabatino conducted the scam after getting his name on a special mailing list for the Dolphins’ Super Bowl tickets.

He allegedly then posed as a Blockbuster executive and requested extras.

He was so convincing that the Dolphins sent him a letter, in Dolphins president Eddie Jones’ name, explaining when and where the tickets would be sent.

Sabatino and LaGuerre both left the state when the scam was uncovered.

LaGuerre, who was charged with two counts of grand theft, surrendered Friday but denied he was involved. Sabatino was charged with three counts of dealing with stolen goods when he turned himself in June 28.

Both men were bailed out of jail on the days they were arrested.