Paste Magazine reported that the U.S. Department of Justice is taking legal action against San Diego-based ticket broker REPS & Company Inc., accusing the company and three of its executives of illegally purchasing millions of tickets to concerts and other live events before reselling them for profit. According to a federal complaint filed October 15, the company allegedly acquired more than 18.5 million tickets by bypassing purchase limits and security measures designed to give fans a fair shot at getting tickets. The lawsuit, filed in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), names REPS & Company CEO Ryan Pancheri, President Brian Archibald, and Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Totagrande as defendants. The complaint alleges that the company spent more than $1.3 billion on tickets for at least 83,000 events between January 2022 and October 2025, generating at least $120.8 million in profit through resale marketplaces.
According to the DOJ, REPS allegedly used thousands of ticket-buying accounts, virtual credit cards, phone numbers, and internet proxy services to get around restrictions imposed by ticket sellers such as Ticketmaster and AXS. These measures are intended to prevent individual buyers and brokers from purchasing more tickets than an event allows, particularly for high-demand shows that are likely to sell out. The case centers on the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, a federal law that prohibits circumventing technological protections used by ticket sellers to enforce posted purchasing limits. The DOJ says the lawsuit is intended to hold businesses accountable when their practices allegedly drive up prices and prevent fans from accessing tickets at their original prices.
“Companies that seek to profit by driving up prices or depriving ordinary fans of access to reasonably priced tickets to their favorite shows or events should be on notice that we are watching and will take action to stop this unlawful conduct,” said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a statement accompanying the announcement. The allegations highlight an ongoing issue for concertgoers, many of whom already face high ticket prices, service fees, and limited availability when trying to attend major tours. When large numbers of tickets are allegedly purchased in excess of posted limits and resold at markups, fans can be left paying significantly more than the original price or missing out altogether.
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