Trio accused of forging Jason Kelce's signature to sell $200,000 in fake memorabilia

Three individuals—Robert Capone (51) from Philadelphia, LeeAnn Branco (43) from Bristol, RI, and Joseph Parenti (39) from Cranston, RI—are charged with selling 1,138 items bearing forged Jason Kelce signatures. The alleged scheme netted $200,000 in sales but left a trail of deceit that the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office is now unraveling.
This isn’t some small-time hustle. It’s a calculated scam. Branco even took a photo with Kelce at a legitimate signing event at Valley Forge Casino Hotel (June 11–12, 2024). That photo became part of their cover story, used alongside Branco’s credentials from Beckett Authentication Services to falsely "validate" the forged items.
Capone, meanwhile, secured legitimate Kelce-signed memorabilia during the event but kept other items off-site. Why? To later flood the market with forged merchandise, selling it through his business, Overtime Promotions, and Parenti’s company, Diamond Legends.


Here’s where things fell apart. TCH Humphreys LLC, the organizers of Kelce’s signing event, noticed irregularities. They had a contract with Kelce and were responsible for managing the official signing event. When they saw forged items popping up, they contacted Montgomery County Detectives and Upper Merion Police, exposing the operation.
It turns out, the authentically signed memorabilia from the event had been verified by Professional Sports Authenticator. The forged items? A different story. Jerseys, helmets, photos, footballs—nothing escaped the trio’s counterfeit operation.
The Montgomery County District Attorney was notified about counterfeit items in June 2024 by THC Humphreys LLC, the sports memorabilia company that had contracted Travis Kelce for a legitimate signing event at Valley Forge Casino Hotel.


Each of the three defendants faces 60 felony charges, including forgery, theft, and deceptive business practices. This isn’t petty crime; this is major. The District Attorney’s Office also claims the fraudulent sales financially hurt both Jason Kelce and TCH Humphreys LLC, further solidifying the case against them.
Capone was arraigned on January 22, 2025, and released on $100,000 bail. Branco and Parenti are expected to surrender and face arraignment soon.


This scheme wasn’t just about making a quick buck. It damaged reputations, hurt legitimate business partners, and took advantage of fans willing to pay top dollar for authentic memorabilia. The 1,138 forged items weren’t just fakes—they were fraud. And it’s not just Kelce who loses here; it’s the fans who trusted that signature.
A preliminary hearing is set for February 5, 2025. It’ll determine the trio’s fate, but the damage? That’s already done. Whether Kelce decides to address this publicly remains to be seen. For now, the case stands as a glaring example of the lengths some will go to exploit the name and legacy of athletes like Kelce.
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