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Craig Carton arrested for ticket scam (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Snickers
- Start date
Grace Under Pressure
Footballguy
Boomer said he basically just found out. Thought Craig was under the weather.
shadyridr
Footballguy
“Boomer and Carton” co-host Craig Carton was arrested by feds Wednesday morning on charges he ripped off millions of dollars from investors by peddling bogus concert tickets in order to cover his own gambling debts, according to court papers.
Carton, 48, and business partner Joseph Meli are accused of running a Ponzi scheme in which they used funds from new investors to repay earlier investors and other debts, according to the complaint filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Together, Carton and Meli, 43, ripped off at least $3.6 million from two investors, while on his own, Carton misappropriated another $2 million from one of the same two investors.
The two solicited investments in ticket reselling enterprises they claimed bought tickets to Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Robert Waters, Metallica, Barbra Streisand and Adele shows and resold them at huge profits.
“Carton falsely claimed to investors that he — sometimes on his own and sometimes through Meli —had access to millions of dollars’ worth of concert tickets at face value,” the complaint said.
Carton turned to the ticket scam in the middle of 2016 as a result of accruing “millions of dollars’ worth of gambling-related debts to casinos and other third parties,” according to court papers.
In a Sept. 7, 2016, email to Meli and another associate, Carton wrote that he was “around $3 M in the whole [sic]” and that he “risked and lost $700 of investor money” — referring to a $700,000 loss — and that he owed [$825,000] ASAP” to the person. He also indicated that he owed “a total of $500 on the 12th” to two casinos, referring to a $500,000 debt, the complaint detailed.
Carton, who was arrested at his Tribeca home, is one-half of the popular “Boomer and Carton” sports radio show on WFAN along with former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason. The show has been on air since 2007.
Esiason was mum on Carton’s arrest on Tuesday’s show but took a couple of digs at his co-host for texting that he was “under the weather.”
“If you hear me starting the show, that means numb nuts is under the weather and he’s not here. And basically what will be the longest week,” Esiason said.
Carton generally kicks off the 6 to 10 a.m. morning show.
Esiason continued complaining about his packed scheduled this week, quipping, “My partner decides, ‘Oh I don’t know, I don’t want to show up this morning because I don’t feel good'” — though it’s unclear whether he’s actually aware of Carton’s arrest.
Esiason and his fill-in co-host then joke that Carton has a “Yankee flu” following the Bombers’ 7-6 bust to the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night.
“We are aware of the situation and are cooperating with authorities,” a CBS Radio spokesperson told WPIX.
Carton, 48, and business partner Joseph Meli are accused of running a Ponzi scheme in which they used funds from new investors to repay earlier investors and other debts, according to the complaint filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Together, Carton and Meli, 43, ripped off at least $3.6 million from two investors, while on his own, Carton misappropriated another $2 million from one of the same two investors.
The two solicited investments in ticket reselling enterprises they claimed bought tickets to Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Robert Waters, Metallica, Barbra Streisand and Adele shows and resold them at huge profits.
“Carton falsely claimed to investors that he — sometimes on his own and sometimes through Meli —had access to millions of dollars’ worth of concert tickets at face value,” the complaint said.
Carton turned to the ticket scam in the middle of 2016 as a result of accruing “millions of dollars’ worth of gambling-related debts to casinos and other third parties,” according to court papers.
In a Sept. 7, 2016, email to Meli and another associate, Carton wrote that he was “around $3 M in the whole [sic]” and that he “risked and lost $700 of investor money” — referring to a $700,000 loss — and that he owed [$825,000] ASAP” to the person. He also indicated that he owed “a total of $500 on the 12th” to two casinos, referring to a $500,000 debt, the complaint detailed.
Carton, who was arrested at his Tribeca home, is one-half of the popular “Boomer and Carton” sports radio show on WFAN along with former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason. The show has been on air since 2007.
Esiason was mum on Carton’s arrest on Tuesday’s show but took a couple of digs at his co-host for texting that he was “under the weather.”
“If you hear me starting the show, that means numb nuts is under the weather and he’s not here. And basically what will be the longest week,” Esiason said.
Carton generally kicks off the 6 to 10 a.m. morning show.
Esiason continued complaining about his packed scheduled this week, quipping, “My partner decides, ‘Oh I don’t know, I don’t want to show up this morning because I don’t feel good'” — though it’s unclear whether he’s actually aware of Carton’s arrest.
Esiason and his fill-in co-host then joke that Carton has a “Yankee flu” following the Bombers’ 7-6 bust to the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night.
“We are aware of the situation and are cooperating with authorities,” a CBS Radio spokesperson told WPIX.
RUSF18
Footballguy
Guy came across as a d-bag who rubbed plenty of people the wrong way, but I always liked him. One of the few who doesn't take sports radio so seriously and just had fun with it.
He did a lot of good work raising money for fallen NYPD officers and his own charity for kids with Tourette's, which he dealt with and at least one of his sons does too. Now I just hope he didn't misappropriate any of that money. Unfortunately it's fairly likely when we're talking gambling debts.
He did a lot of good work raising money for fallen NYPD officers and his own charity for kids with Tourette's, which he dealt with and at least one of his sons does too. Now I just hope he didn't misappropriate any of that money. Unfortunately it's fairly likely when we're talking gambling debts.
comfortably numb
Footballguy
Wow.
Was surprised when he called out sick this morning.
Was surprised when he called out sick this morning.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
damn - had the world in the palms of his hand and just lost it all.....with that kind of $ he is definitely doing time and I'm sure he will not be welcomed back with open arms....big ramifications as Boomer by himself is not holding that morning slot. Carton always poked at Francessa - wonder if Mike takes the high road or gets some shots in....
gambling is a hell of a disease - what a shame....maybe he reaches out to his buddy Christie for some help! l
gambling is a hell of a disease - what a shame....maybe he reaches out to his buddy Christie for some help! l
Gawain
Footballguy
If Christie is brought in to replace Carton WFAN is getting deleted from my presets. I really like a lot of WFAN overnight guys when I drive.
Give me Tony Paige for four hours while I'm driving upstate and I'm a happy guy.
comfortably numb
Footballguy
He did have it good it seemed.
Wfan now looking for an afternoon and morning guy...sheesh.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
that isn't crazy $ if true - I thought he would make a lot more....I bet he supplemented that substantially with appearances but well under what I thought....certainly not enough to handle huge gambling losses....still he had a great gig and very nice salary and blew it - he's toxic now.
RUSF18
Footballguy
There is no way that's all he made. Maybe that was the add-on through the CBS SN simulcast. Still would think that to be low.
General Malaise
Footballguy
Gawain
Footballguy
250K feels like a Steve Somers type deal. What does the Fantasy Phenom winner get?
I would think Carton would be in the high six-figure area (Boomer has to be making a killing, right?) just from WFAN and topped seven with other appearances and tie-ins.
If he was only making 250K, he was awfully blase about being in the hole for half a mil.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
Just listened to Mike - towed the company line and hid behind the statement....didn't even mention Carton's name.....said no calls on it....how can they ignore this? It's like not talking about the Madoff scandal....very disappointed in him and WFAN....could be the start of the end....
Long Ball Larry
Footballguy
it does sound crazy. boomer has to be making a lot more. i'm sure boomer can make a decent enough living without getting up and doing that 5 days a week.
Gawain
Footballguy
Wow, Francesa has to be dying to go after Carton so hard. Remember when Carton said the following about Francesa?
"I think he's ruining his legacy, I think that when you take stock of a 30-year career that's had -- like any other career, amazing highs and some really bad lows -- I think what people are going to remember, good or bad, is how you went out."
How's Carton going out now? I understand the radio station crapping bricks. If Carton was taking tickets from them to fund any part of this Ponzi scheme...
Gawain
Footballguy
I ####### love the Schmooze. I know I missed his heyday, but he's still great for me.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
Kiddnets
Footballguy
Schmoozer on overnights was awesome.....also loved Joe B...those midnight Jet rants were legendary.
The Big Guy
Fear the Blitz
So glad that I am not the only person who is thinking that this couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. He has been a ##### on the radio when he was on nj 101.5 before he was on wfan and is the type that would take glee in another person's misery, so good for him.
Gawain
Footballguy
Somers treats his show, especially his monologues as an art form. The thought that he has put into his alliteration and word play are apparent, but somehow his proclamations never feel contrived. He has a great manner in making a listener believe that he is speaking directly to them, much more than a lecturing Francesa, or Bopomer and Carton who hosted a boys club that you were only tangentially involved in.
McMonigle had a quote, "He thinks he's garbage and he's not." I can't think of anyone else on WFAN that is driven to craft such high quality product due to insecurity and his effort shines through.
=Smackdown=
Footballguy
Looks like the loudmouth finally got pig slapped.
Good riddance
Prided himself on giving gambling tips to people who called in.
Mets fans for gambling losers !!!
Good riddance
Prided himself on giving gambling tips to people who called in.
Mets fans for gambling losers !!!
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Why not? He works 4 hours a day (well on air at least) and if he did not want that salary they could easily fill his slot with some one else with minimum impact on the ratings - people that want to listen to sports radio will tune in no matter who the host is.
Radio guys are always complaining about how little they make - outside of Fat Mike of course who is always bragging about how much he makes.
This simply isn't true, if it was then why do you think The Pope gets paid so much? Especially in a market like New York when you have multiple sports stations to choose from.
=Smackdown=
Footballguy
Michael Kay is the biggest jackass on radio - talentless Yankee hack.
Give me Francesca any day over Kay.
Give me Francesca any day over Kay.
Grace Under Pressure
Footballguy
I picture Michael and Don not saying anything, but Peter R. on the other hand has been feuding with Carton recently, so I could see him taking shots potentially, but this situation might even be too serious for that to even be addressed.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
ESPN radio has been dying for an opportunity like this to take out their rival...if they go quiet on this then it tells me this ticket situation may have even further reaching ramifications and perhaps they are concerned as well....who knows
RUSF18
Footballguy
Highly doubtful. The scam was built around showing investors fraudulent contracts between venues and sports/entertainment agencies indicating they could buy hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars worth of tickets at a discount. He wasn't flipping tickets to a midweek Yankees game.
Gawain
Footballguy
Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I read this, there may not even have been tickets.
It looks like this was a classic Ponzi scheme built on the confidence people had in Carton as a sports personality that when he stated he had an inside line on tickets at face value, people believed him. I see a lot of concerts in the list of tickets he was talking about procuring.
He had folks buy in as an investment, use later investors to pay off people with claims and siphoned off cash to use for his personal debts. All based on the lie that he had an inside source to Katy Perry tix. WFAN and ESPN shouldn't have any involvement with this at all and WFAN looks a bit weak for not disowning him.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
yep - looks correct....amazing....
still Kay goes right to Yankees....shocked it's being ignored so far....
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I think it's true for the most part. There are only two sports stations. I listen when there are fill in hosts - and I'm sure most don't turn it off when Craig is on vacation.Snickers said:
Grace Under Pressure
Footballguy
Yup. The Yanks-Red Sox sign stealing is getting personal, with Boston saying that YES Network was in on stealing signs, Kay led with that, and they've been on Yanks ever since. Hack Rosenberg joins at 4pm though, and ENN is at 6. It very well may be brought up by Peter, and Michael and Don largely leave it alone.
ScottNorwood
Footballcutie
This is pretty ridiculous - I'm amazed that he let himself get in so deep.
Boomer is great on the radio, and I'm pretty sure he can find a better partner than Carton. I wonder if this opens the door for Boomer taking over Francesca's spot when Francesca retires.
Boomer is great on the radio, and I'm pretty sure he can find a better partner than Carton. I wonder if this opens the door for Boomer taking over Francesca's spot when Francesca retires.
RUSF18
Footballguy
They said they weren't interested in moving to afternoons prior to all of this starting, but it seems like it would help Boomer a lot. The early mornings kill him during football season.
That being said, wouldn't be surprised if he uses this to get out of radio all together. The guy is a worker and is stretched really thin.
![[scooter]](/data/avatars/m/22/22287.jpg?1659477690){kind=avatar}
Probably was waiting until he got on a heater at one of the casinos. Obviously not dealing with a Mensa student here.
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