Attorney General's News Release

August 13, 2002

Florida man to pay $12,343 restitution, $7,500 to state for selling items with fake autographs of McGwire and others

St. Charles, Mo. — A Sarasota, Fla., man has been ordered to pay more than $12,000 in consumer restitution and $7,500 in penalties and costs to the state after he admitted to selling various items bearing fake autographs of sports stars Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr. and Brett Favre, Attorney General Jay Nixon said today.

Nixon had sued Eric Jurgielewicz (Jur-gill-EH-vitch) in St. Charles County Circuit Court for selling more than 100 pieces of sports memorabilia with the fake autographs to a Missouri man. Jurgielewicz admitted in today's court order that there was evidence to support Nixon's allegations that Jurgielewicz knew that the autographs were not authentic, that the buyer believed them to be authentic, and that the representation that the autographs were authentic was necessary for the sale to be made.

"These bats, balls and other items had little value without an authentic signature," Nixon said. "Rather than going to the time and trouble of actually obtaining an athlete's autograph, Mr. Jurgielewicz fooled his customers with the old hidden-ball trick. This court order returns more than $12,000 in restitution and runs Jurgielewicz out of the autograph business in Missouri for good."

Associate Circuit Judge Jon A. Cunningham ordered Jurgielewicz to pay $12,343 restitution to his Missouri victim, a $2,500 penalty to the state, and $5,000 to the state for the costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case. Jurgielewicz also is permanently banned from selling or advertising to sell any sports memorabilia autographed by a professional athlete in or from the state of Missouri.

In 1998 and 1999, Nixon obtained several court orders against other individuals for selling memorabilia with fake Mark McGwire autographs.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818