Ocean City business owner charged in $2.5 million fraud scheme

A Maryland man is facing charges in Pennsylvania, after authorities say he formed several businesses, that then sold counterfeit and fraudulent sports memorabilia.

United States Attorney Peter Smith, of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, says they have charged 41-year-old Joshua Shores of both Bel Air, and Ocean City, Maryland, with wire fraud in a criminal information. According to the report, the between 2008 and 2013, Shores created, owned, and operated several internet businesses, that were then used to traffic in counterfeit and fraudulent sports memorabilia.

Shores is alleged to have bought counterfeit sports jerseys in bulk from China, and added fraudulent autographs to them. He apparently then presented them as authentic autographs of well-known athletes and sports figures, along with using fake certificates of authenticity.

The businesses reportedly included Dealakhan, LLC, Stadium Authentics, Autograph Showcase, Sunset Beach, End Game Sports, Authenticgraph,and others with facilities in York County, Pennsylvania and in Maryland. Shores apparently also created and registered PayPal and Amazon.com accounts in his name and in the names of others to receive payments from customers.

In total, Authorities say Shores unlawfully obtained about $2.5 million dollars from buyers of the fraudulent items.

Criminal Information says they are attempting to have Shores forfeiture property in Ocean City, along with about $140,000, and an additional $26,000 related to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a sports utility vehicle. The government is also apparently seeking restitution for victims of the alleged fraud scheme.

According to court documents obtained by 47 ABC, Shores has agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud, but a hearing date for Shores to officially plead guilty has not been set. Wire fraud is apparently punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.