Police say a months-long ticket scam investigation ended in early April with the arrest of Robert Cheevers, 57, the son of former Boston Bruins goaltender Gerry Cheevers. Investigators allege he leaned on his father’s name and local hockey connections to sell what he claimed were discounted sports tickets, collecting cash for seats that never showed up. The probe stretched across Massachusetts and, according to authorities, tied into warrants from other states.
Boston.com reports that Leicester police detailed at least two alleged losses in a statement of facts. One buyer told officers they paid about $600 for four tickets in late 2024 and never received them. Another alleged victim in Newburyport said they were out roughly $48,000 after lending Cheevers money that was not paid back. In each case, police say Cheevers presented himself as having ties to the Bruins organization, a detail investigators believe helped him win people’s confidence.
Cheevers was taken into custody on April 4 when Western Worcester County task-force officers executed an arrest warrant, and he was charged with larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme, according to WCVB. Authorities say he was also held on outstanding warrants out of Newburyport District Court and Clark County, Nevada, linked to earlier alleged offenses. He was arraigned in East Brookfield District Court and is currently being held at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office on cash bail.
Leicester detectives, working with Newburyport and Boston police and the regional task force, arrested Cheevers at his East Boston apartment, according to local reporting. The Newport Dispatch account states the investigation started last fall and expanded as officers collected victim statements and financial records from multiple people who came forward. Officials have kept the full case file under wraps while related inquiries in several jurisdictions continue.
Charges And Court Status
Court records and the police statement of facts list a single count of larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme, and show that Cheevers entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment, per Boston.com. He faces related matters in both Newburyport and East Brookfield courts, and law enforcement officials say Nevada authorities have an extraditable warrant connected to an older case. Prosecutors will have to sort out the competing claims from different jurisdictions before deciding where any longer-term prosecution will play out.
Why The Name Mattered
Gerry Cheevers, a Hall of Fame Bruins goaltender whose stitched-up mask is a staple of Boston hockey history, looms large over the case. Investigators say that legacy helped fuel the alleged scam, giving the family name extra credibility with would-be buyers. The NHL’s record of Cheevers’ career underscores how recognizable he remains in New England, and police allege that this perceived connection made potential customers more comfortable handing over money for tickets that looked like a solid deal.
How To Avoid Ticket Scams
Consumer advocates say that if a ticket offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Fraud experts and watchdog groups recommend sticking to official box offices or well-known, verified resellers, paying with a credit card so you have chargeback protection, and steering clear of wire transfers, gift cards or payment-app-only deals. Those simple steps can significantly lower your risk of getting burned, according to AARP and the Better Business Bureau. If you think you have been targeted, authorities advise filing a police report and submitting a complaint to federal fraud-reporting systems so investigators can spot patterns across cases.
The Leicester Police Department says its investigation is still active, with other agencies assisting as needed. Defense attorneys for Cheevers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. All charges remain allegations at this stage, and Cheevers is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until prosecutors prove their case in court.
