At one point when it came to sports TV in Philly, Don Tollefson was one of the biggest names. 

But at one point, Tollefson went from Sports Anchor to con man. And he went from the Anchor desk to a prison cell. 

Now, he's out.

Philly.com says that Tollefson spent his 64th birthday with a humble lunch, eating two slices - pepperoni and sausage - were served on paper plates, and the drinks were self-serve out of a soda dispenser next to the pickup counter.

"People have been so nice, offering to take me out to eat," he said. "I don't want to take advantage. I just appreciate that they care."

Tollefson was sent to prison in January 2015, for fleecing dozens of people in a sports-ticket-selling scheme. He was then sentenced to two to four years in prison and ordered to pay $164,528 in restitution to 96 victims.

He was released from prison in May after 14 months behind bars, mostly at SCI Pine Grove, 270 miles west of Philly. He had earned credit for time served in county prison after his arrest and through the state's Recidivism Risk Reduction Initiative for nonviolent offenders.

"We didn't oppose early release," said Matt Weintraub, named this week as Bucks County district attorney. "We got our pound of flesh. He needs to start working so we can get cash out of him" for his victims.

Tollefson recently moved from a rooming house on a dangerous North Philly block to a "transitional house" on a more peaceful street. It's owned by an on-site couple who rent rooms to Tollefson and two other recently released inmates.

"Don's room is the pantry, actually, which we converted to a bedroom," said owner Mike Zepp, who visits prisoners as part of a personal ministry. That's how he met Tollefson.

"We have a lot of structure here. Everyone has to be home by 6 for dinner, and we have nightly Bible study."

That's fine by Tollefson, who worships at Janes Memorial United Methodist Church in Germantown, where he is a member.

Zepp said Tollefson has been a good influence on the younger ex-cons in the house.

"He's positive and hopeful," said Zepp. "Don fell a long way down the mountain. I tell him that he can get to the top again through hard work and patience. He is by no means a lost cause."

That means a lot to Tollefson, who is getting used to life without alcohol and pills.

"I'm 1,068 days clean and sober. It's a miracle," said Tollefson, who wears a set of white plastic rosary beads beneath his shirt. "I hadn't been sober more than a week since I started drinking at 16."

He'd always been a high-functioning alcoholic, he said. He could guzzle a fifth of vodka and still be ready the moment the TV cameras blinked on at 6ABC and, later, Fox 29. Life frayed after a 2008 car accident injured his shoulders and back. He got addicted to the opiates prescribed for his pain; combined with the booze, they did him in.

His behavior became erratic, he developed delusions of grandeur, and his ego swelled to bizarre proportions.

"I'm not excusing my behavior," said Tollefson. "I'm humiliated by what I did. It really bothers me that I let so many people down, including people who had followed my career and supported me. If they knew the depths of my remorse, they'd see how I'm trying to turn my life around."

Still, he said, "it's one thing to be clean and sober. It's another thing to change your life to prove that your mistakes were an aberration, not an indication of your true character. It's too soon for people to believe I'm any different. I know that."

Legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell once described Tollefson as the "most extraordinary talent I've ever encountered." Couldn't he tap those talents again?

"I don't want to return to broadcasting - not that anyone would even give me a job after what I've done," said Tollefson. "I think my calling is in helping others."

Not many of Tollefson's former colleagues are in touch. But he was touched when George Mallet, with whom he worked at Fox 29, wrote a letter of support to the parole board when Tollefson applied for early release.

Not many of Tollefson's former colleagues are in touch. But he was touched when George Mallet, with whom he worked at Fox 29, wrote a letter of support to the parole board when Tollefson applied for early release.