Maryland man pleads guilty to selling counterfeit Super Bowl tickets

A Maryland man pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit Super Bowl tickets and intending to sell them, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Tuesday.

Calvin Eric Harris, 49, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of Counterfeited Intellectual Property. He was sentenced to a year and a day, with credit for 30 days already served since his arrest.

According to the criminal complaint, officers saw Harris in the skyway on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 4, selling Super Bowl tickets. When they approached Harris, he backed up and tried to flee. Officers detained Harris and recovered 10 counterfeit Super Bowl tickets and approximately $1,300.

Harris flailed around on the ground and screamed about back, neck and breathing issues. He was examined by paramedics, found to be fine and sent to jail.

Officers were able to locate the victim and return the $1,300 he had given to Harris.

Harris has been convicted of aggravated forgery (counterfeit tickets) in Hennepin County in 2004 and also similar offenses in Texas in 2016 and New York in 2000. In addition, he has arrest records from 14 separate states for forgery, counterfeit, and theft-related charges.