Dodgers officials became suspicious last year when they noticed game-used memorabilia turning up for sale on eBay. When Dodgers attorney Chad Gunderson sent an email asking about the authenticity of game-issue bats used by Joc Pederson, the seller allegedly replied, “My contact works at the stadium. They were intercepted before making it down to the clubhouse."
That’s all it took for the franchise to launch an internal investigation that led to the arrest of two stadium security guards, Juan Prada, Fernando Sierra and a third man, Jesse Dagnesses, who was identified as the eBay seller.
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According to the Los Angeles Times, the three men were arrested on suspicion of burglary and later charged with conspiracy to commit a crime. All three pleaded not guilty at an arraignment March 3.
According to an affidavit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the eBay account “Swinghard33,” had sold dozens of game-used bats, jerseys and baseballs since late 2013. One ad featured a game-worn jersey of then-manager Don Mattingly. When Gunderson asked about the authenticity, the seller allegedly replied, “This jersey was pulled off the rack from Dodger Stadium last week.”
Dodgers staff set up surveillance cameras in the stadium late last year and collected video evidence on several nights. Just before midnight Dec. 4, a man entered the stadium equipment room and left with a full bag of equipment almost a half hour later.
Police raided the homes of the three men and recovered bats, balls, gloves, among other items.
According to the affidavit, some of the equipment, including a couple of Corey Seager’s jerseys and two bats belonging to Clayton Kershaw, have been returned to the team.