Two men landed in handcuffs early Monday outside Factory Town in Hialeah, after police say they were hustling counterfeit wristbands to Electronic Dance Music fans on their way into a show. Officers recovered fake wristbands and cash at the scene, and both suspects were hauled off to the county jail later that morning, adding fuel to growing worries about ticket and wristband scams at sold-out events.
Police identified the men as Jalaal Spearman, 48, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and David Stiger, 39, of Sylmar in Los Angeles. Officers say they arrested the pair around 3:15 a.m. at 4800 NW 37th Ave., according to Local 10. Corrections records show Stiger was booked shortly before 6 a.m. and Spearman shortly after.
Where It Happened
Factory Town is a seven-acre concert complex built inside a former mattress factory at 4800 NW 37th Ave. The venue’s website lays out age and ID rules and urges fans to use official transfer tools for resales, the kind of steps venues point to when they warn concertgoers about fraud; see Factory Town for more details.
What Police Say They Found
Arrest reports state that officers seized counterfeit wristbands and cash after the suspects allegedly approached concertgoers and pitched $225 bands that were supposed to provide admission or restricted access. Both men face charges that include an organized scheme to defraud, creating or possessing fraudulent admission tickets with intent to defraud, and disorderly conduct, according to Local 10.
How Fans Can Protect Themselves
To avoid getting burned, fans are urged to buy tickets only from official sellers, steer clear of cash deals at the gate, and rely on venue-approved resale platforms that verify transfers. Industry guides also recommend technical tools such as dynamic QR codes, identity checks, and staff training to spot phony wristbands; see Ticket Fairy for industry best practices.
Charges And Penalties
Florida law treats organized schemes to defraud, and the fake creation or possession of admission media, as crimes. The Florida Communications Fraud Act sets felony penalties that depend on the amount of loss, and statute 817.355 bans counterfeiting or possessing tickets, cards, or wristbands; see the Florida Statutes for the full language and penalty breakdown…