Capt. Janks still jailed over bar scams, new allegations

Prank caller Tom Cipriano, better known as Capt. Janks to fans of Howard Stern's Sirius/XM satellite radio show, is still locked up at Montgomery County Correctional Facility over his April 23 arrest by Plymouth Township Police for allegedly scamming a handful of bars. Cipriano has been charged in Bucks and Montgomery counties with a string of misdemeanors related to allegedly having taken $350 deposits from bars to appear at events and failing to show.

Since we reported last week about Cipriano's arrest, we have heard from two additional bars who claim similar problems with Cipriano, in which they paid him to appear and he didn't show. Last Memorial Day, Cipriano was to have appeared at the Old Indian Valley Inn (101 E. Broad), in Souderton, says bar manager Christine Martin, who says that she paid him $500 for his scheduled appearance, which he called to cancel. Valerie Coyle, of Coyle's Cafe (6080 Ridge), in Roxborough, is very upset over Cipriano's alleged failure to appear at a March Relay for Life fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society. Coyle says that not only was the bar out $350 for his appearance fee, but also she comped drinks for people who were upset that Janks did not appear, so it cost the bar even more money. As the event was a benefit, Coyle was that much more outraged at being stood up.

Cipriano, 43, who last worked as a gas station attendant near his home in North Wales, could not be reached for comment.