MARSHFIELD, WI (WTAQ) – A Marshfield man could be heading to prison for three years, for running a Green Bay Packers’ ticket scam which cost its victims over $50,000.
37-year-old Patrick Blachut pleaded no contest Wednesday to nine Wood County felony and misdemeanor charges of theft by fraud. Six similar counts were dropped in a plea deal.
Authorities said Blachut offered to sell hard to get Packer season tickets to 15 business people in the Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids areas last fall. Buyers from as far away as Fond du Lac took the bait, after Blachut reportedly claimed he had connections with the Packers from a previous job.
The Wood County buyers lost around $46,000.
Prosecutors said they’d recommend 3 years in prison, plus 6 more years of extended supervision and probation when Blachut is sentenced on August 6th.
He was also given a deferred prosecution agreement in Eau Claire County, in which a similar theft by fraud charge would be dropped if he stays clean and meets certain conditions.
A judge is scheduled to make the final call in April of 2017. Authorities said there were two victims in that case.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
