Image Credit: Coastal Elite (CC BY-SA 2.0)
If you've ever sat atop one of the many Wrigleyville rooftops behind Wrigley Field and felt cheated, don't feel bad. Marc Hamid, the former owner of the Skybox on Sheffield, was just sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding the Chicago Cubs organization via mail fraud and illegal bank structuring. The prosecuting attorneys were originally seeking an 8 year prison sentence for Hamid.
Hamid, who can be seen speaking in the Skybox on Sheffield virtual tour video below, falsified attendance records for the popular rooftop seating area. The Chicago Cubs are due royalties from all of the rooftop owners each season; 17% if annual revenue from the Skybox on Sheffield to be exact. Hamid hid more than $1 million in sum from the Cubs organization between the 2008 and 2011 Major League Baseball seasons.
Hamid was also selling fans rooftop tickets through one of his ticket brokerages which was revenue that the Chicago Cubs would be unable to see. He has also been ordered to pay nearly $400k in restitution to the Chicago Cubs. If you believe in karma, you'll find enjoyment in knowing that the Skybox on Sheffield no longer has a view of Wrigley Field thanks to the giant video board that the team constructed.
For those of you that interested in learning more about reserving one of the many Wrigleyville Rooftops outside of Wrigley Field, check out our Wrigley Field rooftop directory.
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