The former Iowa-based sports radio host, who was indicted on federal charges after scamming multiple investors in a ticket resale scheme, has pleaded guilty to fraud after taking a plea deal.
According to the Des Moines Register, Marty Tirrell pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud on Friday. The other nine counts of fraud against him were reportedly dismissed. Court records obtained by the Register show that Tirrell is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on April 7, 2020, where he faces a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release in addition to prison time.
As reported earlier this year, Tirrell, 59, allegedly stole over $1 million from at least eight people between 2016 and 2017. According to the indictment, Tirrell made arrangements with investors, promising that if they paid him money, he would buy and sell sports tickets to later split profits with them. He paid investors at first, but then started to lie to the alleged victims and use their money on personal items or to pay back other investors, federal court records show. He reportedly sent checks to investors and when they bounced, he would send victims false transfer information.
Investigators found that he made 144 unauthorized debit card transactions from his account, totaling $82,733.74. In February, Tirrell was taken into custody and charged with one count of mail fraud and one count of device fraud, as well as two counts of wire and bank fraud.
Tirrell was known for hosting multiple popular talk shows including KXNO-AM. Previously, he was a defendant in numerous civil lawsuits and has a least 24 small claims and other civil actions against him, the Register notes.
He faces up to 20 years in prison.
