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He Really Wanted to Meet the Mets
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 21, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 21, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Youthful chutzpah, laminating arrogance, or plain stupid? The Queens DA's office has pressed charges against an 18 year old who used fake credentials to gain access to the NY Mets during home games. Ryan Leli made a fake NBC Universal employee ID card on his computer, and managed to get into the August 10 game between the Mets and the San Diego Padres. Mets officials seemed to be tipped off that something was wrong because, as Newsday puts it, "he had to be escorted from the clubhouse after that game because he had exceeded the time allotted for player interviews." (First rule of "Fake Media Credentials Club": Play by "Real Media Credential Club" rules!) When Leli arrived at Shea last Friday for the Colorado Rockies game, he was arrested and later charged wtih second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree falsifying business records, petit larceny, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree criminal impersonation and third-degree criminal trespass. And the Queens DA's press release was subtitled "Allegedly Tried to Conduct Pre-Game and Post-Game Interviews With Players – Including Mike Piazza", showing that they truly believe in protecting Piazza, even now that's he's a Padre.
A law enforcement official told Newsday that Lelil said he was planning on going to acting school this fall. Either that or interning at ESPN.
Photograph of Mr. Met from nycmikewp on Flickr
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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