Man gets fed prison in sports novelty scam


August 8, 2013 at 12:00p.m.

Man gets fed prison in sports novelty scam

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A partner in a Pittsburgh business that sold sports and novelty items has been sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for defrauding suppliers out of more than $600,000.

Sixty-three year old Andrew Demasi, of Natrona Heights, pleaded guilty in April to providing vendors with phone financial information about his company, A&R Services Inc., so he could buy Pittsburgh Steelers-themed items and other merchandise on credit, even though he had no intention to pay for the items. He was sentenced Wednesday by a federal judge in Pittsburgh.

Demasi’s business partner, 64-year-old Ronald Halpern, was sentenced to two years in federal prison in May.