June 4, 2010 - The president of the Cincinnati Roller Girls, Mercedes B. Stafford, who skates under the name “Sadistic Sadie,” pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Covington, Kentucky on Thursday to one count of wire fraud, admitting that she illegally obtained more than 500 airline tickets between while employed at United Airlines at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport. 

According to court documents, Stafford, 34, of Cincinnati, fraudulently bought “involuntary tickets” that airlines issue when a passenger’s flight is cancelled or delayed.

She created fake ticket numbers that she used to buy real tickets on United and other airlines for herself, her friends, her family, the Cincinnati Roller Girls, and other individuals associated with roller derby events, including other roller derby teams. 

Stafford admitted that she fraudulently booked more than 525 plane tickets that caused a loss to United of between $400,000 and $1 million. Stafford also admitted that she received more than $50,000 in payment from the individuals or organizations who benefitted from the plane tickets.