NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) – Things just keep getting worse for Fyre Festival impresario Billy McFarland after federal prosecutors charged him with a new raft of criminal charges after accusing him of running a sham ticketing scheme.
Federal investigators on Tuesday charged McFarland with wire fraud and money laundering charges in the scheme which they say he attempted to sell fraudulent tickets to exclusive fashion, music, and sporting events through NYC VIP Access, a company controlled by McFarland. They also alleged that he attempted to use multiple financial accounts to conceal the proceeds of of the business.
Prosecutors allege that McFarland defrauded about 15 customers out of about $100,000 by selling tickets to events that he did not have, including the 2018 Met Gala, Burning Man 2018, Coachella 2018, the 2018 Grammy Awards, Super Bowl LII, and a Cleveland Cavaliers game and team dinner with Lebron James.
The latest round of charges comes just 2 months after McFarland pleaded guilty to defrauding investors and vendors of the Fyre Festival, which was billed as an exclusive destination music event catering to the well-heeled but failed to deliver even the basics. He faces sentencing in the initial case next week.
“William McFarland, already awaiting sentencing for a prior fraud scheme, allegedly continued to conduct criminal business as usual, selling nonexistent tickets to fashion, music, and sporting events. As alleged, McFarland’s purported exclusive event ticket company, NYC VIP Access, in fact had no access to events for which he sold bogus tickets,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement. “Now McFarland faces criminal charges on top of those to which he already pled guilty.”
