Anyone who has seen You Don’t Mess With the Zohan knows that people in the Middle East love Mariah Carey.
Well the love for Mariah in the Arab world was possibly what concert promoter Antywan Ross was trying to cash in on when he convinced a New Jersey-based investor to fork over $330,000 for a series of Mariah concerts in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Big problem for Ross was that there never a Mariah show in Dubai.
Instead the 43-year-old Ross admitted in U.S. District Court Thursday that he sent out fake letters claiming at least $1 million in sponsorships and even one letter claiming $10 million were already committed to the concerts.
Ross pleaded guilty to wire fraud Thursday.
Instead of using the money to put on the Mariah show, Ross used most of the invested thousands to pay for personal items including a luxury car, according to the United States Attorney of the District of New Jersey.
He also owned up to never paying back the investment, said the U.S. Attorney.
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The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to twice the amount defrauded. Ross will pay more than $325,000 in restitution, said authorities.
Ross is free on bond until his sentencing in October.
