Highlights
Best known as the creator of a host of boy bands such as 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys in the 1990s and early 2000s, Lou Pearlman is an Orlando-based businessman accused of running a massive Ponzi scheme that bilked banks and investors out of about $500 million. Pearlman, who was born June 19, 1954, grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Queens, where he met many of the neighborhood kids who would later work in his myriad companies. His varied business pursuits included a blimp advertising company, an airline, a modeling agency and the music acts that brought him world-wide fame. As Pearlman's empire grew, he launched an "employee savings investment account" program. It became the condui...
Best known as the creator of a host of boy bands such as 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys in the 1990s and early 2000s, Lou Pearlman is an Orlando-based businessman accused of running a massive Ponzi scheme that bilked banks and investors out of about $500 million. Pearlman, who was born June 19, 1954, grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Queens, where he met many of the neighborhood kids who would later work in his myriad companies. His varied business pursuits included a blimp advertising company, an airline, a modeling agency and the music acts that brought him world-wide fame. As Pearlman's empire grew, he launched an "employee savings investment account" program. It became the conduit for hundreds of millions of dollars from 1,800 investors who now say Pearlman has cheated them out of their savings. In late 2006, Pearlman began to fall behind on debts and state regulators closed in on his investment program. He fled the country, and during his absence many of his companies were thrown into bankruptcy. He was arrested June 15, 2007 in Guam after Indonesian authorities and the FBI tracked him to the tropical resort of Bali. Charged with bank fraud, he is being held without bail at the Orange County Jail, awaiting trial.
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High-profile convictions top U.S. attorney's record year
Sentinel Staff WriterThe U.S. Attorney for the district that includes the Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville metropolitan areas said his office has had a banner year. Authorities had a number of high-profile cases -- including former music mogul Lou Pearlman -- but they've also...Tags: Mirabilis, Prisons, Florida, Employees, Internal Revenue Service
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A loaded word
Regarding Wednesday's headline, "Jailed Lou Pearlman Snitches on Suspected Cop Killer." I am dismayed that the Sentinel would use the term "snitch" to describe the efforts of one prisoner to assist police in prosecuting another. The term carries the... -
Boy band promoter to repay fraud victims $300M
Former boy band promoter Lou Pearlman will have to repay victims of his decades-long investment fraud at least $300 million in restitution. A federal judge on Wednesday asked lawyers to draw up the order for his approval. It's unclear whether the creator...Tags: Fraud, Corporate Crime
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Not-so-handy Jim Metts won't be prowling aisles
Sentinel ColumnistI can't speak for the water, but it's safe for consumers to go in Lowe's and Home Depot again. Unless, that is, Jim Metts has no more respect for the courts than he does for his victims. Metts, 50-year-old handyman who resembles Happy Days actor Tom...Tags: Court Administration, Arkansas, Orange County (Florida), Justice System, Home Depot Incorporated
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Missing girl's grandmother meets with investigators
Sentinel Staff WriterThe grandmother of missing 3-year-old Caylee Marie Anthony met with officials this morning at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Cindy Anthony left without telling reporters what was discussed. Today marks the 28th day since her daughter, Casey...Tags: Prisons, Justice System, Lawyers, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Family
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Lou Pearlman heads to federal prison
Sentinel Staff WriterFormer music mogul Lou Pearlman was moved out of the Orange County Jail early Tuesday so he could begin serving his 25-year federal prison term, jail officials said. Pearlman was picked up at 6:19 a.m. by U.S. marshals and taken to an unknown federal...Tags: Internal Revenue Service, Prisons, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Punishment
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Jailed Lou Pearlman snitches on suspected cop killer
Sentinel Staff WriterWhile federal investigators were building the $300 million fraud case against Lou Pearlman, he was conducting an investigation of his own. Held in the Orange County Jail with a man accused of killing a cop, the flamboyant boy-band founder began...Tags: Court Preliminary, Prisons, Firearms, Murder, Defense
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Boy band promoter sings in murder case
Lou Pearlman, the former boy band promoter and entrepreneur turned federal inmate, has taken another career turn: police informant. Pearlman went to authorities with information about a 19-year-old man accused of killing an off-duty Orlando, Fla., police...Tags: Court Preliminary, Firearms, Prisons, Theft, Orange County (Florida)
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Despite foreclosure, Church Street Station still in business
Sentinel Staff WriterChurch Street Station hit another pothole in its latest attempt at a comeback as a lender who helped developer Cameron Kuhn buy the dining-and-entertainment complex out of bankruptcy filed this week to foreclose on the downtown Orlando property....Tags: Interstate 4, Music Theater, Minnesota, Cameron Kuhn, Florida
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Feds want $424 million restitution from Lou Pearlman
Sentinel Staff WriterFederal prosecutors have put a price tag on the damage done by Orlando investment promoter Lou Pearlman and his con schemes: $424.4 million. That's the amount the government is asking U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp to order Pearlman to pay back...Tags: Local Authority, Prosecution, Internal Revenue Service, Bankruptcy, Corporate Crime
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Lou Pearlman off to prison: Will he pay interest to victims?
Sentinel Staff WriterAdmitted Orlando con man Lou Pearlman was ordered off to federal prison Wednesday after a judge delayed ruling on whether he should pay interest on the $300 million in restitution he owes to investors. The decision by Senior U.S. District Judge G....Tags: James Taylor, Prisons, Music Industry, Police, Trials
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House of cards
Mike Thomas again explains the insurance mess that our politicians in Tallahassee are getting us citizens of Florida into. I only wished that all of the people would become mad and demand change in the gross mismanagement and deception that is being...Tags: Florida, Charlie Crist
Oct 3, 2008
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Jul 31, 2008
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Jul 16, 2008
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Aug 24, 2008
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Aug 13, 2008
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Jul 23, 2008
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Jul 30, 2008
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Jul 30, 2008
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Jul 31, 2008
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Jul 15, 2008
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Jul 17, 2008
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May 26, 2008
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