Wisc. Acacia + computer = phony tickets

[hoosier]

Following inquiry, police arrest student in parking ticket fraud
By Maureen Backman
Published: Tuesday, September 14, 2004
UW-Madison student Anthony Gallagher was charged in Dane County Circuit Court Monday with obstructing an officer following a police investigation since April 2003. Police found he and an individual identified as Nate Grede had been placing fake parking tickets on windshields and collecting payments for approximately six weeks.
The tickets were titled "Capitol and Isthmus District Parking Enforcement, Notice of Parking Violation" and were spreadsheet-generated, according to the criminal complaint.
Police first became aware of the fake tickets when Timothy Johnson telephoned police in April 2003, questioning a ticket he received at 222 Langdon St. for parking on private property. According to the complaint, Johnson tried to pay the citation by mail, but his check was returned as non-deliverable.
Madison Police Sgt. Mark Brown noted in the criminal complaint that when Johnson showed him the ticket, he realized the wording on top of the citation should have read "University of Wisconsin Madison Notice of Parking Violation."
After further investigation, Brown reported the number on Johnson's citation was actually a citation number issued to Gallagher by University of Wisconsin Police Department Parking Enforcement. Gallagher was cited Feb. 17, 2003 for No Permit.
Gallagher was a member of the Acacia Fraternity, 222 Langdon St., and according to the criminal complaint, police arrived at the fraternity to investigate Gallagher's involvement May 9, 2003.
"Anthony Gallagher is now an alumni of our fraternity and has been officially suspended," said Acacia President Michael Maclean. "That means he's lost all privileges as a member and is now facing expulsion. We in no way condone what he did."
Maclean added the fraternity had no knowledge of Gallagher's actions until the police came to their house.
"We're dealing with it as best we can," he said.