Charges Withdrawn Against 2 in $200K Fake Jason Kelce Memorabilia Scheme

Criminal charges against LeeAnn Branco and Joseph Parenti, accused of selling $200,000 worth of fake Jason Kelce memorabilia, have been withdrawn by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office after new evidence showed they were unaware the autographs were forged. Branco, an independent contractor for Beckett Authentication Services, and Parenti, owner of the Rhode Island-based memorabilia store Diamond Legends, were initially charged alongside Robert Capone, who remains charged and is awaiting trial. The investigation revealed that Branco and Parenti were misled about the authenticity of over 1,100 items sold through their businesses, and they have cooperated with ongoing investigations. Both Branco and Parenti expressed relief and gratitude for the charges being dropped, emphasizing their lack of criminal intent and commitment to authenticity moving forward. The scheme came to light following a private autograph signing event in June 2024 at the Valley Forge Casino Hotel, where the fraudulent signatures were discovered. Capone, who operated Overtime Promotions in Philadelphia, continues to face multiple felony counts related to the forged memorabilia.