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State ethics panel: No fines in Sox tickets case

WBZ-TV

 The State Ethics Commission has decided against fining Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto and former Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette after Ruberto agreed to buy two 2004 World Series tickets from Duquette at a face value of $190 per ticket.

At the time tickets were selling on Internet sites for as much as $2,000.

The commission concluded Monday that the two violated the state's ethics law because Ruberto's purchase of the tickets came as Duquette was negotiating to move his amateur ballclub to city-owned Wahconah Park.

Both Ruberto and Duquette have denied wrongdoing.

The two could have faced fines of up to $2,000 per violation. The commission opted against penalties, saying the two believed they were complying with the law and there was no evidence Ruberto was influenced since the final deal was favorable to the city.

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