Former Iowa sports radio host accused of scamming people out of $1.5M

DES MOINES, Iowa — A former Iowa sports radio host, accused of defrauding people out of $1.5 million, was indicted on federal charges, the Des Moines Register reported.

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Martin "Marty" Tirrell, 59, faces six criminal fraud charges in cases involved the alleged swindling of eight people during 2016 and 2017, the newspaper reported. The charges include one count each of mail fraud and access device fraud, two counts of bank fraud and two counts of wire fraud, KCCI reported.

Tirrell, who worked at two Des Moines radio stations and was known as the “Mouth of the Midwest,” was indicted Jan. 23, the television station reported.

The Register, citing court documents, said Tirrell told investors he could use their money to buy sports tickets and resell them for a profit. While Tirell originally paid the investors and provided them with VIP access to events, he began lying to the victims and used the money on personal items or to pay back other investors, the newspaper reported.

A detention hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Des Moines, KCCI reported.

Cox Media Group