Five men were sentenced on Wednesday for their involving in a large-scale scam over tickets to Liverpool games at Anfield, including two former club employees.
James Johnson, 34, and Louis James, 37, were working at the club’s ticket office while involved in large-scale ticket fraud.
They were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday along with co-conspirators Liam Rice, 35, Lee Smith, 38, and Joseph Johnson, 42.
Today, five men have been sentenced to a total of 12 and a half years in prison for large-scale ticket fraud, following an extensive Merseyside Police investigation.
The men were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today, after pleading guilty to the charges. They are:
– Joseph… pic.twitter.com/D0w9ZNLrQL
— Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) December 17, 2025
As relayed by Merseyside Police on X, the men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to:
• Joseph Johnson: Four years and six months in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position; conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation; and conspiracy to sell tickets fraudulently.
• Louis James: Two years and four months in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position; conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation; and conspiracy to sell tickets fraudulently.
• Liam Rice: Two years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to sell tickets fraudulently.
• Lee Smith: Two years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position; and conspiracy to sell tickets fraudulently.
• James Johnson: 21 months suspended for conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position; and conspiracy to sell tickets fraudulently.
BBC News reports that the group “dishonestly acquired tickets for Liverpool games and sold them at inflated prices using secondary ticket websites, before creating their own called Seatfinder UK.”
“One of their tactics,” the report adds “was selling affordable tickets meant for local fans for anything up to £1,000.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool supporters singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Tickets reserved for local fans, located in the upper Main Stand, are currently sold for £9.
Seatfinder UK was registered in Dubai but ran from a rented office in Kirkby. The operation began in 2015 and expanded beyond Liverpool to other Premier League fixtures.
It included the creation of over 1,000 fake memberships to obtain tickets before reselling them through unofficial channels at a significant markup.
James and Johnson were sacked from their jobs in Liverpool’s ticket office but their fraud continued, with estimations that the group made upwards of £1 million.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 4, 2025: A general view prior to the FA Women’s Super League game between Liverpool FC Women and Everton FC Women, the Women's Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. (Photo by Ryan Browne/Propaganda)
James’ defence, Damian Nolan, claimed: “Senior players in the first-team squad were equally active in this market as anyone and that was happening right under the club’s nose.
“Liverpool cannot claim to be damaged here because they tolerated the same behaviour from players and staff.
“The club want to control the secondary ticket market – that’s what this case is about.”
Merseyside Police have reminded supporters of the risk of buying from unofficial sellers, urging those wishing to attend fixtures at Anfield to purchase tickets from Liverpool’s official website.