Undelivered Super Bowl tickets case investigated

DES MOINES - The Iowa Attorney General's office is investigating allegations that a northwest Iowa woman sold Super Bowl ticket packages worth thousands of dollars but never delivered them.

Ranae VanRoekel sold packages including airfare, hotel rooms and tickets to Sunday's game in Indianapolis priced from $1,700 to $10,000, but more than a dozen consumers complained that the tickets never materialized, said Bill Brauch, director of consumer protection for Attorney General Tom Miller.

The face value of Super Bowl XLVI tickets ranged from $800 to $1,200, according to the National Football League.

Brauch said investigators are trying to determine whether VanRoekel, 44, of Boyden, was unable to get tickets due to circumstances beyond her control or if something else happened. He emphasized that no criminal charges had been filed.

"Right now, we are in the information-gathering stage," Brauch said.

VanRoekel's attorney, Jared Weber, of Orange City, would only confirm that he is representing her and that there is an ongoing investigation.

"She intends to fully cooperate," Weber said.

The Des Moines Register reported that Weber has sent letters to ticket buyers assuring them they would get a refund.

Weber declined to say how VanRoekel became involved in selling Super Bowl ticket packages. Brauch said early indications are that she is not a full-time travel agent.

A number listed for her was disconnected Tuesday.

Ankeny businessman Dennis Albaugh told KCCI-TV that he had been put in touch with a northwest Iowa woman by a friend who had bought tickets from her before. Albaugh bought three packages including game tickets, hotel rooms, and airfare for about $5,000. The packages never arrived. He only received a letter from Weber indicating a full refund would be coming. It said in part: "I regret to inform you tickets are unfortunately not secured for the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis, Indiana. She extends her sincerest apologies for every inconvenience this causes you."

Albaugh said the woman stopped returning phone calls last Thursday.

"We heard stories that she was in line to get them, and we heard many stories about the tickets and really they never showed up," Albaugh said.

The Sioux County Sheriff's office said it also has received complaints from people who bought tickets but never received them.