Alleged Swindler Hits Marietta Pawn Shop with Fake Babe Ruth Ball

Credit: Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers/Facebook

A serial forgery suspect took a Marietta pawn shop deep after he sold them a baseball allegedly signed by Babe Ruth earlier this month, a Cobb County arrest warrant shows.

According to the warrant, Shane Allen Simpson walked into AAA Pawn on Powder Springs Street at about 3:35 p.m. on Sept. 10 bearing the signed ball and a certificate alleging the signature was applied by none other than the Sultan of Swat himself. Pawn shop employees gave Simpson $1,000 for the supposed piece of sports memorabilia.

As it turns out, Simpson may have a history of swindling pawn shop owners with fake Babe Ruth baseballs; according to the warrant, “the accused has multiple Babe Ruth signed baseballs in multiple pawnshops across no less than four different states. There are no less than three baseballs bearing the same certificate number as the one involved in this case (B64112) in different pawn shops.”

Law enforcement agencies in two other states are after Simpson for the same scheme, the warrant states. Police in D’Iberville, MS say that Simpson has sold at least three forged baseballs in or near their jurisdiction, Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers reports on Facebook. The same post claims Simpson is also under investigation for shoplifting from a Target in the D’Iberville area.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Shane Allen Simpson is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta by calling 404-577-TIPS (8477), texting “CSA Tip” to CRIMES (274637), or by submitting a tip online. All tips can be made anonymously.