Couple Faces Charges in Steelers Ticket Scam

A Franklin Park woman is accused of stealing a debit card with the help of her boyfriend, purchasing nearly $5,000 in Pittsburgh Steelers tickets online and selling fakes through Craigslist. 

Emily Randall, 18, of Franklin Park, recently appered in Leetsdale District Court and waived her right to a preliminary hearing on charges of theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud, identity theft and criminal conspiracy.

Police said they also have filed charges against Randall's boyfriend, Joshua Gonzalez, 24, but they have not located him.

Police reported Randall and Gonzalez had been invited Sept. 29 to a Lindenwood residence by someone visiting there. when they took a debit card from the homeowner’s purse. Police said the card was used to make $4,950 in purchases, including $70 at a local pizza shop and five sets of Pittsburgh Steelers tickets for the Oct. 7 game.

Police said Randall and Gonzalez emailed and spoke to a North Haven, CT man looking to purchase Pittsburgh Steelers tickets through Craigslist. The victim flew to Pittsburgh on Sunday, Oct. 7 and paid the couple $275 for the tickets after meeting in the Oakland section of the city.

Police said when the man arrived at Heinz Field for the game, he was stopped by security at the gate and told the tickets were counterfeit and that he was not allowed in the stadium. He filed a report with Pittsburgh Police, and while the matter was being investigated, police said the man conducted his own searches on Twitter and Facebook and located pictures of Randall and Gonzalez for police.

The following people were charged and scheduled for preliminary hearings March 5 in Leetsdale District Court.

Waived

• Jonathan Littles, 19, of Aliquippa, charged with theft by unlawful taking. Sewickley police reported Littles stayed overnight Jan. 12 at a friend’s house on Beaver Street and stole a laptop computer.

• Jack Myers, 62, of Nevin Avenue, Sewickley, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in two separate incidents. Sewickley police responded Oct. 12 to a two-vehicle accident without injuries in the area of Beaver Street and Nevin Avenue. Police reported Myers’ blood-alcohol level was 0.244 percent, above the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.
•  Myers was also stopped Dec. 31 in the 100 block of Chestnut Street after his vehicle was seen swerving. Sewickley police reported Myers refused a blood-alcohol test. 

Held for court

• Stephen Schnurer, 52, of Bellevue, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Ohio Township police were called Nov. 19 to Deer Run Road in Aleppo Township, where Schnurer was trying to wave down help. Police did not report the results of a blood-alcohol test. 

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