COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A woman defrauded by an ex-Ohio State and Indianapolis Colts quarterback in a million-dollar sports ticket fraud has pleaded guilty to her own involvement in the scheme.
Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien says Anita Barney started out as a victim and then became an offender.
Barney pleaded guilty to two felony theft charges Monday. She’s been sentenced to three years of community control and 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $427,000 to 19 victims.
Authorities say the 70-year-old Barney loaned money to former football great Art Schlichter (SHLEES’-tuhr), then recruited friends to participate in the scheme.
Schlichter is serving a nearly 11-year sentence for taking thousands of dollars from his victims for college and NFL game tickets he never delivered. He has apologized tearfully.
