In a startling revelation of deceit within the music industry, two men have pleaded guilty to orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that promised to deliver high-profile music concerts but instead swindled $1.35 million from an unsuspecting victim. Terronce Morris, a 41-year-old from Missouri City, Texas, and Blake Kelly, 36, from Los Angeles, California, admitted their roles in a conspiracy involving fake music events purportedly headlining renowned artists such as J.B., B.E., and P.M.
The guilty pleas were entered in Miami, with Morris pleading on February 13 and Kelly on January 9, acknowledging their conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, alongside aggravated identity theft for forging J.B.'s signature on counterfeit concert contracts.
Court documents detail that from December 2019 to March 2020, Morris and Kelly deceived victim J.R. into funding the production of a fictitious music festival, showcasing famous recording artists. The duo fabricated concert performance contracts, complete with forged artist signatures, and created sham email accounts to give the illusion that the artists themselves had communicated the signed contracts. In a more deceptive move, Morris and Kelly arranged for an accomplice to impersonate artist J.B. during a video call with J.R., further convincing the victim of the festival's legitimacy.
Lured by the fraudulent claims, J.R. transferred substantial amounts to Morris through wire transfers and even mailed a $200,000 check intended for J.B., which Morris deposited into his personal account. The ill-gotten gains funded an extravagant lifestyle for Morris, Kelly, and their co-conspirators, marked by luxury purchases, high-end travel, and opulent dining experiences.
Sentencing for Morris is set for May 2, while Kelly will face sentencing on March 28. Each risks up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, with an additional mandatory two-year sentence for identity theft.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI's Miami Field Office. The FBI Miami led the investigation with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger Cruz and Joan Silverstein prosecuting the case, highlighting the continued effort to protect individuals and the integrity of the entertainment industry from fraudulent activities.