N.J. man posed as Patriots player during Tom Brady Super Bowl ring fraud: DOJ

Forget fake merchandise. One man allegedly scammed his way into a real Super Bowl ring.

Scott V. Spina Jr., a 24-year-old New Jersey man, allegedly bought an official 2017 Super Bowl ring off a former New England Patriots player, then bought more from the team and sold them, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California.

Spina has been charged with one count of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, officials announced Monday.

After buying the ring off the player, at least partially with a bad check, Spina then posed as that player to purchase more rings from the team meant for friends and family, according to the plea agreement.

Spina allegedly bought three rings, all with “Brady” engraved on them, while posing as the player, identified only as T.J. The company selling the rings told investigators that Spina said they were presents for Brady’s baby.

A buyer agreed to buy all three rings, which Spina told him Brady had given to his nephews, for $81,500 before realizing that the then-Patriots quarterback did not have nephews. He pulled out and Spina instead allegedly sold the rings to an auction house.

At a 2018 auction, one of the rings sold for more than $337,000.

As part of his plea agreement, Spina has agreed to pay restitution to the former Patriots player who sold him the first ring.

Spina was previously sentenced to 35 months in prison in July 2018 for stealing his customers’ credit card information and failing to deliver the high-end sneakers he sold them. He was released in March.

He is due back in court on Jan. 31 and faces up to 92 years in federal prison.