Marty Tirrell, a former sports radio host, faces new federal wire fraud charges after a previous conviction for similar offenses. The 65-year-old is accused of defrauding investors in a ticket-flipping scheme that allegedly resulted in losses exceeding $1.5 million.
Marty Tirrell’s Legal Troubles
Tirrell was sentenced in 2021 to nearly three and a half years in prison for mail fraud. He pled guilty to misleading investors who funded a luxury ticket-flipping initiative. Instead of using the funds as promised, he diverted the money for personal use and gambling. Consequently, he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 million in restitution.
Recent Indictment
Following his release in January 2023, Tirrell was placed under supervised release. However, on October 20, he was arrested on new charges. The indictment, dated October 16, alleges that Tirrell solicited funds for another ticket-flipping operation between February 2024 and January 2025. This time, he promised investors profits from reselling high-demand tickets to events, including the U.S. Open and concerts by Taylor Swift.
- New federal wire fraud charges against Tirrell.
- Allegations of total losses exceeding $1.5 million among investors.
- Previous conviction for mail fraud in 2021.
The Mechanism of the Fraud
Although Tirrell initially repaid investors, prosecutors assert that these payments did not come from ticket resales. Instead, he allegedly used funds from new investors to repay earlier ones, a practice known as a Ponzi scheme. Tirrell’s actions left many investors with significant financial losses.
Current Status of Operations
At the time of these allegations, Tirrell operated a podcast and a company named Tea Room Broadcasting. This company’s bank account was reportedly used to facilitate the alleged fraud. However, its associated website, Sports Overnight America, has been inactive since February.
A Brief Background on Marty Tirrell
A Massachusetts native, Tirrell made his mark in Des Moines in 1995 when he started the region’s first sports talk radio program. He later transitioned to 1460 KXnO but was dismissed in 2009 following a scandal. His career has been plagued by legal issues, including lawsuits for non-payment dating back to 1997.
Despite once being a well-known radio personality, Tirrell’s history of legal troubles has overshadowed his achievements. His alleged fraudulent activities continue to attract attention, further complicating his already controversial legacy.
