According to a press release from the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, the incident occurred on January 15, when the couple attempted to enter a game at New York’s Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills.
“Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 34-year-old Michael Naab and 37-year-old Amber Naab of West Seneca were arraigned yesterday evening before Orchard Park Town Justice Jorge S. DeRosas. Both defendants are charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree,” the district attorney’s office said in the press release.
According to the Buffalo Bills’ team website, in order to attend a game at Highmark Stadium, fans are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccine. The team’s website states that the physical vaccine card, the New York State Excelsior Pass and the CLEAR Digital vaccine card are all accepted, however, a picture of the COVID-19 vaccine card is not.
If the couple is convicted, they face a maximum prison sentence of up to seven years.
The district attorney’s office said that this case was the first to be prosecuted in Erie County following the passage of New York’s “Truth in Vaccination” legislation. In December, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation, making the falsification of a COVID-19 vaccine card a Class D felony.
“These new laws will help us improve our response to the pandemic now, crack down on fraudulent use of vaccination records, and help us better understand the areas of improvement we need to make to our health care system so we can be even more prepared down the road,” Hochul said after signing the legislation.
In the press release, Flynn said, “These two defendants are accused of using a fake vaccine card to intentionally violate the rules at the stadium, potentially putting the health of other fans at risk.”
“As I have stated before, if you present a fake vaccine card, you will be prosecuted,” he added.
While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Flynn said that the two individuals were admitted into the Bills game against the New England Patriots on January 15 by using the fake vaccine card.
“They went to their seat and in the third quarter, they were tapped on the shoulder by the Buffalo Bills and the sheriff’s department to come with them and they were questioned,” Flynn said.
Despite the Bills’ COVID-19 vaccine policy for fans, the team’s wide receiver Cole Beasley has previously stated his opposition to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to the start of the NFL season, Beasley announced on Twitter that he wasn’t vaccinated saying that he’d rather “take my chances with Covid and build up my immunity that way.”
In July, Beasley said in a statement that he is not “anti or pro vax,” and noted that “The issue at hand is information is being withheld from players in order for a player to be swayed in a direction that he may not be comfortable with.”
Beasley also previously criticized fans who booed him during a game for his stance on not receiving the vaccine.
Newsweek was directed to Flynn’s remarks on Wednesday after reaching out to his office for further comment.
