Texas Family’s Ticket Fraud Scheme Hits Masters Tournament

Augusta, Ga. – A family from Texas is facing the music after orchestrating a sophisticated ticket resale scheme at the prestigious Masters Tournament, with the mastermind receiving federal prison time for his role in the scam.

Stephen Michael Freeman, 42, of Athens, Ga., was sentenced to 28 months behind bars and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. His parents, Steven Lee Freeman, 67, and Diane Freeman, 66, both of Helotes, Texas, and sister, Christine Oliverson, 37, from San Antonio, Texas, were sentenced to three years of probation each.

According to U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine, the family’s greed-fueled scheme began before COVID-19 restrictions and involved stealing hundreds of tickets from Augusta National’s lottery and selling them at a profit. The alert staff member of Augusta National and the FBI’s investigative prowess were credited with bringing down the operation.

Stephen Michael Freeman was also ordered to pay $157,493.70 in community restitution, while his parents must each fork over $59,000. Half of these funds will go to First Tee of Augusta, a charitable organization, with the remainder going to the Community Foundation of the CSRA.

The scheme was detailed by Freeman’s admission that he used stolen identities to create fraudulent accounts for ticket applications dating back to 2013. He and his accomplices then manipulated the system to redirect tickets to addresses under their control using fake identification documents.

Detectives from the FBI, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons, and AUSA Xavier A. Cunningham of the Asset Forfeiture Recovery Unit were instrumental in the prosecution of this case, which serves as a stark reminder that justice will pursue those who attempt to exploit public events for personal gain.