Promoter of failed Fyre Festival, who promised supermodels but delivered cheese sandwiches, pleads guilty to fraud
Billy McFarland faces up to 10 years in prison after admitting he lied to investors about the event and his finances
The promoter of the failed Fyre Festival in the Bahamas – once billed as the “cultural experience of the decade” – pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges Tuesday, agreeing to serve up to a decade in prison for lying to investors and sending false documents.
Billy McFarland, 26, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court in a deal with prosecutors that suggested he serve between eight and 10 years in prison.
The festival was promoted as “the cultural experience of the decade,” an ultra-luxurious event on the Bahamian island of Exuma over two weekends last April and May. It was promoted on social media by supermodels Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid (neither of whom attended) and other celebrities, coaxing people into buying ticket packages ranging from US$1,200 to over US$100,000.
Customers hoping to see Blink-182 and the hip hop act Migos arrived to learn music acts were cancelled. Their luxury accommodation and gourmet food consisted of leaky white tents and cheese sandwiches. Customers lashed out on social media with the hashtag #fyrefraud.
As part of his plea, McFarland also admitted raising money for the festival by giving a ticket vendor false information about Fyre Media’s financial condition last April to induce the vendor to pay US$2 million for a block of advance tickets.
McFarland and his attorney, Randall Jackson, declined to comment outside court.
McFarland has been free on US$300,000 bail since his June arrest. Sentencing was set for June 21.