Jose Teran, Music Royalties Theft, Arizona 2023
A Phoenix-based music executive has pleaded guilty to stealing millions in music royalties.
Jose Teran, 32, of Scottsdale, Arizona, pleaded guilty last week to Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, and Transactional Money Laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2023, before United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes.
Teran pleaded guilty to charges from a federal indictment issued on November 16, 2021. The indictment charged Teran and Webster Batista with 30 felony counts involving Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Transactional Money Laundering, and Aggravated Identity Theft.
Teran admitted that the entity, MediaMuv L.L.C., was created for the purpose of falsely claiming ownership over music recordings. He further admitted that false claims were made to Y.T. that MediaMuv L.L.C. owned over 50,000 songs.
Teran admitted that he and Batista fraudulently received approximately $23,400,000 from their fraudulent scheme.
Teran faces up to five years in prison for the Conspiracy conviction, up to 20 years for the Wire Fraud conviction, and up to 10 years for the Transactional Money Laundering conviction. He may also be fined up to $250,000 per felony conviction.
Batista pleaded guilty to Conspiracy and Wire Fraud on April 21, 2022.
The investigation was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Assistant United States Attorneys Raymond K. Woo and Seth T. Goertz, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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