COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A suburban Adele fan helped police catch a scalper this week after she paid $2,500 for four fake concert tickets, prosecutors said.
Each ticket would've been for a seat with a face value of $150 — making the total value $600, according to Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti, who spoke during a bond hearing Thursday.
Tickets to Adele's three-night run at the United Center in July sold out within minutes late last year. Scalpers soon started charging as much as $4,500 for the coveted seats on sites like eBay and StubHub.
Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil couldn't help but balk at the $2,500 price tag for four seats Wednesday, asking, "Were they front-row seats?"
"At $150 a piece, I don't think so," Antonietti replied.
"Wow," Kuriakos Ciesil said. "I know those tickets went fast, but that's a lot of money."
Delontae Fairman (r.) is accused of selling fake Adele concert tickets. Photo: Getty Images; Chicago Police Department
It all started last week when Delontae Fairman, 22, posted an online ad asking for $2,500 for four seats, prosecutors said. A 52-year-old Joliet woman responded, and the pair agreed to meet after a series of texts.
According to prosecutors, the woman refused to buy the tickets until she saw Fairman's ID and a receipt proving he obtained the tickets legally. Fairman complied, allegedly presenting the Adele fan with an envelope containing one receipt and four tickets.
When the woman got home, she called to confirm the tickets were real — but was told each one was fake, prosecutors said.
At that point, the woman called police and set up a second meeting with Fairman. According to Antonietti, the woman told Fairman she wanted to buy another four tickets for $2,500.
The woman met Fairman in Chicago, and he once again presented an envelope with one receipt and four tickets — which were identical to the first four tickets he sold, prosecutors said.
Police arrested Fairman, of the 6700 block of South Oakley Avenue, about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 1200 block of South Michigan Avenue, according to an arrest report. He is charged with forgery.
Kuriakos Ciesil on Thursday said Fairman could be released on his own recognizance pending trial.
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