Grimy Times has learned that William McFarland, the CEO of Fyre Media, has pleaded guilty to engaging in a fraudulent ticket scam in New York. McFarland, 26, was charged with one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of making false statements to a federal law enforcement agent.
According to the allegations, McFarland operated a sham ticket scheme through his company, NYC VIP Access. He purported to sell tickets to exclusive fashion, music, and sporting events, including the 2018 Met Gala, Burning Man 2018, Coachella 2018, the 2018 Grammy Awards, and the Super Bowl. However, no such tickets existed.
McFarland concealed his association with NYC VIP Access so that he could solicit customers of Fyre Festival and his other company, Magnises, to buy tickets without raising suspicion. These customers later learned that the tickets didn’t exist, and that this was just another fraud in McFarland’s disturbing pattern of deception.
The scheme cost real people real money, and now McFarland faces real time in federal prison for his crimes. McFarland’s fraudulent schemes cost over $26 million.
McFarland was previously charged with defrauding investors of Fyre Media and the infamous Fyre Festival and a ticket vendor of over $26 million. He was on pretrial release from July 1, 2017, to June 12, 2018.
McFarland’s sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald. McFarland’s crimes are a disturbing example of the lengths to which some individuals will go to deceive and cheat others.
Defendant/respondent: William McFarland
Criminal charges: one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of making false statements to a federal law enforcement agent
City and state: New York
Exact date: September 17, 2018
Sentence or outcome: sentencing scheduled for September 17, 2018
Dollar amounts: over $26 million
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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