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Promoter Behind Failed Fyre Festival Arrested in NYC

Billy McFarland's partner in the Fyre Festival, rapper Ja Rule, was not arrested

The promoter behind a failed music festival in the Bahamas has been arrested in New York on a wire fraud charge.

Federal prosecutors say Billy McFarland was arrested Friday and is charged with scheming to defraud investors in his company, Fyre Media.

McFarland's Fyre Festival was sold as an ultra-luxurious event with headliners including rockers Blink-182 and the hip-hop act Migos.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim said McFarland actually "delivered a disaster."

Kim said McFarland presented fake documents to induce investors to put more than $1 million into his company "and the fiasco called the Fyre Festival."

Attorneys who have represented McFarland did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment.

McFarland's partner in the Fyre Festival, rapper Ja Rule, was not arrested. His real name is Jeffrey Atkins.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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