1250 Broadway, 27th Floor New York, NY 10001

BOOKED FOR BOOKING FRAUD

TWO MEN WHO PROMISED TO BOOK RIHANNA AND LADY GAGA PERFORMANCES CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING CLIENTS OF MORE THAN $2 MILLION

Late last week, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., announced the indictments of SYLVESTER VINCENT CARROLL, a/k/a VINCENT CARROLL, 47, and MECEO MCEADDY, a/k/a RAY ANNIS, 38, for stealing more than $2 million from multiple event promoters and a party planner. The defendants are charged with promising to provide performances by world-famous recording artists for concerts or other events, when, in fact, they had no ability to enter into contracts on behalf of the artists. Both CARROLL and MCEADDY are charged in New York State Supreme Court with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. MCEADDY is additionally charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Criminal Tax Fraud in the Second and Fifth Degrees.1

“These defendants are charged with selling concert promoters around the world a false bill of goods,” said District Attorney Vance. “Rihanna’s ‘Please Don’t Stop the Music’ could be an anthem for the legions of disappointed fans who heard about her concert in Brazil, only to learn that it had to be canceled before tickets even went on sale. The defendants capitalized on the popularity of three of the most famous pop stars in the world to steal more than $2 million from event promoters. My office will continue to root out and prosecute those who abuse their victims’ trust for their own profit.”

According to the charges and documents filed in court, beginning in June 2010, CARROLL and MCEADDY defrauded an event production company in Brazil by leading it to believe that CARROLL would book performing artist Rihanna for concerts in Rio de Janeiro. CARROLL is charged with entering into contracts and sending the company documents falsely claiming that he was an authorized booking agent for Rihanna. MCEADDY signed some of the documents using the alias “ANNIS,” and falsely claimed that he worked for Rihanna’s management company. CARROLL also created an email account in the name of Rihanna’s then-manager in order to contact the victims. Together, the defendants are charged with stealing approximately $825,000 from the Brazilian company, large portions of which they withdrew in cash and used to pay their own expenses, including payments to a car dealer and jeweler, and dental and hotel bills. Relying on defendants’ misrepresentations, the company began promoting the falsely-promised concerts, and only learned of the scam after receiving cease-and-desist orders from Rihanna’s legitimate representatives.

CARROLL is charged in a second indictment with falsely promising that he could book performing artist Lady Gaga for a private party to be held in Cancun, Mexico, in March 2012. CARROLL allegedly claimed that he was a personal friend of Lady Gaga’s management, and that they had agreed to the performance. The defendant is charged with stealing $650,000 from the party’s organizer by claiming an advance deposit was necessary to secure Lady Gaga’s performance at the event. CARROLL quickly withdrew large amounts of the organizer’s deposit and spent the money on personal expenses, like debit card payments and other outstanding debts. CARROLL never booked Lady Gaga for that event.

A third indictment charges MCEADDY, who again used the alias “ANNIS,” with falsely promising event organizers that he would book performing artists Lady Gaga and Kesha for concerts on Long Island and in Taiwan, respectively. Although the defendant allegedly accepted deposits in the amounts of $15,000 and $30,000 from the victims, neither performance artist was booked for the promised events. In both cases, MCEADDY quickly spent the victims’ deposits at restaurants, furniture stores, a nightclub, and on airline expenses, and also made large cash withdrawals.

According to documents filed in court, MCEADDY also allegedly created fraudulent email accounts and documents to pose as various music industry professionals in furtherance of his crimes. MCEADDY is additionally charged with Criminal Tax Fraud based on his failure to file or pay New York State income taxes as a state resident for any of the money he gained in connection to the frauds beginning in June 2010.

Assistant District Attorneys Sarah Sacks and Vimi Bhatia are handling the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Judith Weinstock, Deputy Chief of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau; Polly Greenberg, Chief of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau; and Executive Assistant District Attorney David M. Szuchman, Chief of the Investigation Division. Senior Rackets Investigator Faith Tuohy assisted with the investigation under the supervision of Supervising Rackets Investigator Santiago Batista and Chief Investigator Walter Alexander. Trial Preparation Assistants Bonita Robinson and Elizabeth Daniels and Financial Investigator Biagio Rosano assisted with the investigation.

District Attorney Vance thanked the Readington Township Police Department and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, who assisted with CARROLL’s arrest. District Attorney Vance also thanked Tax Auditor Mukaila Rabiu of the Criminal Investigations Division of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Defendant Information:

MECEO MCEADDY, a/k/a RAY ANNIS, D.O.B 12/30/1974

Queens, NY

Charges:

  • Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
  • Criminal Tax Fraud in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 2 counts
  • Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts
  • Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, 1 count
  • Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 2 counts

SYLVESTER VINCENT CARROLL, a/k/a VINCENT CARROLL, D.O.B. 12/21/1965

Whitehouse Station, NJ

Charges:

  • Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 2 counts
  • Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

1The charges contained in the indictments are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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