Lou Pearlman | |
|---|---|
 2007 arrest mugshot | |
| Born | Louis Jay Pearlman June 19, 1954 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 19, 2016 (aged 62) FCI Miami, Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Resting place | New Montefiore Cemetery |
| Other names | |
| Alma mater | Queens College |
| Criminal charges | |
| Criminal penalty | 25 years in prison |
| Relatives | Art Garfunkel (cousin) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Dance-pop |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, manager, music businessman |
| Years active | 1993–2006 |
Louis Jay Pearlman (June 19, 1954 – August 19, 2016) was an American music manager and scam artist. He was the person behind many successful 1990s boy bands, having formed and funded the Backstreet Boys. After their massive success, he then developed NSYNC.
In 2006, he was accused of running one of the largest and longest-running Ponzi schemes in United States history, leaving more than $300 million in debts. After attempting to evade capture, Pearlman was apprehended in Bali, Indonesia in June 2007. He pled guilty to conspiracy, money laundering, and making false statements during bankruptcy proceedings. In 2008, Pearlman was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.[3][4] He died in federal custody in 2016.[5]
- ^ Roche, Timothy; Handy, Bruce (February 1, 1999). "Big Poppa's Bubble Gum Machine". Time. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- ^ Handy, Bruce (June 18, 2007). "Lou Pearlman Appears at Hearing in Guam". USA Today. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- ^ a b [dead link] (March 4, 2008). "Boy Band Founder to Plead Guilty in $300M Suit" Archived February 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Associated Press (via Today). Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- ^ Liston, Barbara (May 21, 2008). "Boy Band Mogul Pearlman Sentenced to 25 Years". Reuters. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- Huntley, Helen. "Special Report: Unraveling a Transcontinental Fraud". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on June 8, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- [failed verification] Staff (December 20, 2008). "More Coverage of the Lou Pearlman Saga". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2009. - ^ Stack, Liam (August 22, 2016). "Lou Pearlman, Svengali Behind Backstreet Boys and 'NSync, Dies at 62". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2022. (subscription required)