Concert Promoter Sentenced for Fraud

GREENVILLE—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced JOHN BURTON VICK, JR., 37, of Edenton, North Carolina, to 30 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised release. Additionally, the Court ordered restitution of $919,766.00.

A Criminal Information was filed on February 23, 2010. On April 12, 2010, VICK pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.

According to the Criminal Information and statements made during the arraignment and sentencing hearings, VICK, used his concert promotion business to defraud the Danville Harvest Jubilee, a non-profit organization, as well as several investors, including investors in California and Wyoming. With regard to the Danville Harvest Jubilee, VICK promised to put on a concert featuring Big and Rich in the summer of 2009 in Danville, Virginia. The Danville Harvest Jubilee wired VICK $75,000 and later an additional $10,000, which he promised to use as an artist deposit and to put the money in escrow. In direct contradiction to this promise, VICK used the money to pay off an unrelated loan. He did not even have an escrow account. Later, VICK faxed a fictitious document purporting to be an offer for the concert. VICK eventually admitted that there were no contracts or offers for any concert in Danville. The concert never occurred and the Danville Harvest Jubilee was never repaid. VICK also defrauded investors from Wyoming and California with promises that he would use investments of $25,000 or multiples of $25,000 for concert-related expenses, returning the money of the investors and paying the investors a fee once the concert was completed. In reality, VICK used the money for salaries to himself and others, for past debts, and for other expenses unrelated to the promised concerts. VICK failed to put on several promised concerts, including multiple concerts by Tracey Lawrence, instead making numerous false statements to investors about his use of their money, his efforts to put on the concerts, and the reasons why the concerts did not occur. VICK’s fraud resulted in losses to investors and the Danville Harvest Jubilee of over $900,000.

Victims from Wyoming and California traveled to Greenville, North Carolin to speak with the court about their losses.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Bragdon represented the government.