Just when we thought Fyre Festival couldn't possibly get any worse, further charges have been laid against organizer Billy McFarland. Yesterday (June 12), federal prosecutors pressed one new charge of wire fraud and one charge of money laundering against him.
In a statement, Manhattan prosecutors explained that following his arrest for wire fraud in conjunction with the failed festival last year, McFarland was found to be running a fraudulent ticket-selling service while on bail for the previous charges.
He allegedly ran the company NYC VIP Access by using an email account of another employee to send proceeds to other financial accounts in an attempt to conceal his own involvement.
Operating from late 2017 until March of this year, the company sold fake tickets to exclusive events like the Grammys, the Met Gala, Coachella and Burning Man. In one case, customers purchased tickets to the Grammys and were turned away at the door.
The New York Times reports that in total, McFarland scammed approximately 15 customers out of $100,000 USD.
Last year, McFarland was charged with two counts of wire fraud related to Fyre Festival. He was arrested in June of last year and released on $300,000 USD bail. In March of this year, he appeared in court and plead guilty to both charges of wire fraud. His sentencing hearing is schedule for next week.
The three wire fraud charges have a maximum of 20-year sentences each. The money laundering charge also holds a maximum sentence of 20 years.
McFarland's legal team has yet to respond to the latest charges.
In a statement, Manhattan prosecutors explained that following his arrest for wire fraud in conjunction with the failed festival last year, McFarland was found to be running a fraudulent ticket-selling service while on bail for the previous charges.
He allegedly ran the company NYC VIP Access by using an email account of another employee to send proceeds to other financial accounts in an attempt to conceal his own involvement.
Operating from late 2017 until March of this year, the company sold fake tickets to exclusive events like the Grammys, the Met Gala, Coachella and Burning Man. In one case, customers purchased tickets to the Grammys and were turned away at the door.
The New York Times reports that in total, McFarland scammed approximately 15 customers out of $100,000 USD.
Last year, McFarland was charged with two counts of wire fraud related to Fyre Festival. He was arrested in June of last year and released on $300,000 USD bail. In March of this year, he appeared in court and plead guilty to both charges of wire fraud. His sentencing hearing is schedule for next week.
The three wire fraud charges have a maximum of 20-year sentences each. The money laundering charge also holds a maximum sentence of 20 years.
McFarland's legal team has yet to respond to the latest charges.
