Tattoo-parlor owner had many OSU items

By Jill Riepenhoff and Mike Wagner

Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS

The man who traded tattoos for Ohio State memorabilia and helped embroil the football program in scandal is among the Buckeyes’ biggest fans.

Edward A. Rife, whose name and business operations surfaced during a drug-trafficking investigation, attended public autograph sessions and Ohio State games and bought thousands of dollars in memorabilia from current and former players, according to a letter obtained by The Dispatch.

The letter from the Justice Department details what agents found during a raid May 1 on Rife’s Westerville home. It sheds some light on the little-known tattoo-parlor owner whose involvement with Ohio State football players is at the heart of an NCAA investigation.

Rife is under criminal investigation by the FBI, the IRS, Columbus police and the Franklin County sheriff’s office. No charges have been filed against him.

The Justice Department sent OSU lawyers the letter last December, advising them of the extensive collection in Rife’s home and that it intended to sell the property it confiscated.

It stated: “There is no allegation that any of these players were involved in or had knowledge of Mr. Rife’s drug-trafficking activities.”

The Justice Department letter details numerous transactions, although many of them did not violate NCAA rules. The NCAA has investigated the transactions listed in the letter and has closed its investigation of the players.

The investigation led to five-game suspensions for players Terrelle Pryor, Daniel Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas. The NCAA ruled that they sold or traded memorabilia in violation of its rules.

It was later discovered that coach Jim Tressel learned months before about the potential violations and kept it from his bosses, the compliance office and the NCAA. Tressel now faces a five-game suspension, a $250,000 fine and a date with the NCAA’s committee on infractions that could lead to greater penalties for the coach and university.

Evidence taken in the raid indicates Rife went to several public autograph sessions to have memorabilia signed by Tressel, two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin and several former players.

The letter reveals that Rife traveled to Pasadena, Calif., for the 2010 Rose Bowl against Oregon and paid $7,000 for a 2002 Ohio State national championship ring. Since 2008, he has spent at least $14,000 buying Buckeye memorabilia.

Rife gave the players free tattoos in exchange for Fiesta Bowl game pants, 10 pairs of gloves, an OSU ball cap, an unsigned football helmet, an autographed football helmet and cleats.

The largest transaction involved a player who traded two 2010 Rose Bowl watches and four seats at the Rose Bowl for a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe.