Kane Dane
Incident
Two women have been arrested for concocting a fake Sandy Hook benefit concert, which they claim would include Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars — then, according to federal authorities, blowing cash from investors in a car and a Saks shops spree instead.
Nancy Jean and Carissa Scott said that they were supporters of the December 2019 show in San Antonio, Texas, would be helping Sandy Hook Promise— a charity comprised of families that lost loved ones in Connecticut’s mass shootings in 2012, a criminal complaint filed Thursday in Brooklyn Federal Court Alleged.
Between September and December 2019, women reportedly told their wealthy brands that the concert would cost Timberlake at least $800,000, and Mars $600,000.
They also promised that, according to court documents, they could deliver other big-name stars, including Lady Gaga, Drake and Usher.
On October 31, a non-named investor wired a deposit of $100,000 from Scott of Mississippi to block Timberlake.
Yet, according to a criminal complaint, the women had never had any contact with either the “SoulMate” singer or his agents— and used some money instead to pay for a Mercedes-Benz, shopping on Saks Fifth Avenue, and cash withdraws of over $8700.
Managers Of Timberlake And Mars
A Timberlake manager told investigators “he had never heard of a concert in San Antonio, Texas.” According to court documents, the singer had never signed up. Mars manager said the same thing.
Charges And Punishment
The women were disgusted after they allegedly tried to shake an FBI agent who, according to court papers, posed as Brooklyn-based finance agent.
Scott was reported to have told the agent during a conference call on December 3 that Timberlake and Mars “were frustrated and worried the show was a joke and demanded full deposits,” according to the court documents.
“If we want to go on, we need to have this deposit in advance,” Jean said, through court docs.
Both women were arrested and charged with wire fraud on Wednesday at JFK airport.
Sandy Hook Promise is a non-profit organization that works to prevent gun violence against children. It was founded by families of those murdered when a gunman opened fire on children in Newtown, Conn., Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec 14, 2012.
Scott and Jean were both brought before the Brooklyn judge on Thursday and released for a $75,000 bond.
A judge forbade them from acting as reservation agents or promoters while awaiting trial.
Both of them refused to comment.
