Seven years ago, a quiet cul-de-sac in northeastern Escondido was the capital of the U.S. sports memorabilia forgery market.

From his parents' one-story home, forger Greg Marino spent hours upon hours perfecting the signatures of nearly every famous athlete or celebrity, dead or alive.

Babe Ruth. Michael Jordan. Even Mother Teresa.

The celebrity or the signature didn't matter, because Marino forged them all to near perfection.

After Marino was done, the ring's mastermind, Wayne Bray of San Marcos, shipped the items to retailers across the country.

For five years, the ring made millions by providing cheap, flawless, authenticated autographs to an unsuspecting American public.

It all ended on Oct. 13, 1999, when an FBI sting called Operation Bullpen brought the syndicate crashing down with numerous raids throughout North County and across the country.

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