WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (Wheeler News Service) — A Marshfield man has pleaded innocent to allegations that he stole 46-thousand dollars from local businesses by promising Packer tickets he didn’t deliver.
Thirty-seven year old Patrick Blachut is charged in Wood County with seven felony counts of theft-by-fraud, and eight similar misdemeanor counts. He’s also scheduled to enter a plea next Thursday to a similar felony charge in Eau Claire County.
Wood County prosecutors said Blachut told at least 15 business owners he could get Green Bay tickets for them on-or-near the 50-yard line, through past connections with present-and-former Packer players. Authorities said they found some previous connections he had with the team, but no current ones.
The alleged scam was first made public last fall, when a Marshfield business owner told police he gave Blachut over six-thousand dollars for tickets not delivered. One of the victims has been refunded at last word. Blachut is due back in Wood County court May 8th for a pre-trial conference.
