University of Kansas Recovers Nearly $500K Lost in Ticket Scandal

The University of Kansas athletics department has collected nearly $500,000 so far of the estimated $2 million lost in a ticket scandal involving seven employees.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that $250,000 comes from the department’s insurance policy against employee theft. The newspaper says defendants convicted in federal court as participants in the scheme have paid nearly $250,000 in restitution so far.

The seven employees, including top business officials in the athletics department, were convicted in the thefts of more than 17,000 Jayhawk basketball tickets and at least 2,000 football tickets. The tickets were illegally sold to brokers and others, with the defendants pocketing the money.

Five people, including former associate athletics director Ben Kirtland, are serving prison terms.