CHICAGO - A man has pleaded guilty after prosecutors say he stole and sold sports memorabilia belonging to the estate of Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton.
What we know:
Heath Matlock, who managed a self-storage facility in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates, admitted to transporting stolen memorabilia across state lines and selling it to a pawn shop in Hammond, Indiana, according to a plea agreement.
Court records say Matlock took several items around May 2021, including the 1978 Pro Bowl Outstanding Player trophy, the 1987 Tom Landry Award and a Madden Team Award trophy.
Prosecutors say he sold the items for about $75,000 after claiming they were his to sell. He used a portion of the proceeds to buy a 2017 Infiniti QX60.
The memorabilia was later appraised at roughly $1.08 million.
What we don't know:
It remains unclear whether the stolen memorabilia was returned to the Payton estate.
What's next:
Matlock pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.
He faces a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years, though prosecutors are recommending probation as part of the plea agreement.
The Source: The information in this story came from a federal plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois.
Crime and Public SafetyHoffman EstatesHammondBearsNews