A Rap Promoter faces jail over his role in a national wire fraud conspiracy that stole $2.29 million.
Court documents show between at least March 2016 and September 2020, Antonio M. Strong, 31, of Lansing, Illinois, conspired with Herbert Wright, Joseph Williams, Demario Sorrells, and others to defraud numerous businesses and individuals by using unauthorized and stolen payment card account information.
This was used to buy valuable goods and services from those businesses and people,
These included private jet charters, private yacht charters, luxury car rentals, luxury hotel and vacation rental accommodations.
They also bought private chef and security guard services, designer puppies, limousine and chauffeur services, commercial airline flights, consumer goods, meals, and other incidentals.
An investigation began when cardholders discovered the transactions on their accounts and disputed the charges.
The actual cardholders’ payment card companies then reversed their payments.
These were charged back to the businesses and people involved.
As a result, they suffered losses due to the unauthorized transactions.
During this time, Strong presented himself as a rap promoter based in the Chicago area.
Antonio M. Strong faces 20 years in jail
He used various fake names and aliases; provided fake driver’s licenses; used email accounts in the names of fictitious and real businesses.
He also claimed he was from “Universal Music,” “Sony Music,” “Epic Music,” and other real and fake companies.
Strong admitted one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 19 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
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Wright, Williams, and Sorrells have all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Wright was sentenced on Jan. 11 to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $139,968 in both restitution and forfeiture.
Williams is due to be sentenced on June 28, and Sorrells is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29.
Two other co-conspirators were indicted in October 2020 and their trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 21.
