Former A&P exec pleads guilty to fraud charge

A former SVP of marketing at A&P has pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding the retailer by reselling event tickets intended for the company’s use, federal prosecutors said.

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John R. Moritz, 44, of Mason, Ohio, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to one count of wire fraud. Between December of 2010 and December of 2011, Moritz arranged for A&P to buy thousands of tickets to sporting events, concerts and other shows that were to be used to reward high-performing A&P employees and other legitimate business purposes. Moritz however sold more than 7,000 tickets to third parties over the Internet without company consent.

Some of these tickets were for the 2011 Super Bowl, the 2011 New York Yankees playoffs and Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga and U2 concerts. He admitted that as a result of his conduct, he fraudulently obtained more than $1.2 million, prosecutors said.

The fraud count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 9. U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited special agents of the FBI in Newark, N.J., under the direction of Aaron T. Ford, for the investigation leading to the guilty plea.