By Daily Press staff
LOS ANGELES — A 26-year-old Australian who allegedly sold an estimated $55,000 in bogus playoff and season tickets for the Lakers to five victims through the Ebay auction Web site was charged Tuesday with grand theft, the District Attorney’s office announced.
Scott Raymond Thomas, was arrested by Los Angeles Police officers at LAX Monday morning as he stepped off a plane from Australia, said Deputy District Attorney Jeff McGrath. Thomas was charged with three counts of felony grand theft and two counts of attempted grand theft.
McGrath said he will ask that bail be set at $1.5 million.
If convicted, Thomas faces up to five years in state prison.
Thomas allegedly offered Lakers playoff tickets on Ebay if the seller would buy season tickets between $15,000 to $25,000. McGrath said one victim from Burbank paid $25,000 and two others — one from Manhattan Beach and the other from Los Angeles — paid $15,000 each. No tickets were ever received.
Two other people were offered the tickets but didn’t pay any money. Police were notified by one of the potential victims from Glendale who became suspicious, McGrath said. An investigation led to Thomas. Australian authorities assisted in the investigation.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 9, 2004. Read the original PDF.