Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish and Post Malone were three names used in an elaborate scam to defraud a concert promoter of $1.35 million (USD).
Terronce Morris and Blake Kelly have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in the scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida.
The two men allegedly forged contracts with fake signatures from artists such as Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish and Post Malone, persuading the victim to give them the money for the purportedly production of a music festival.
The press release states that Morris also "created false and fraudulent email accounts that he used to pose as if the music recording artists themselves had sent the signed contracts to Kelly and himself." The defendants also set up a video call with the victim, using an accomplice to pose as Bieber to convince the promoter he was committed to perform at the concert.
"Mr. Bieber was saddened to learn about the circumstances alleged in the indictment that led to the guilty pleas and cooperated fully with federal law enforcement throughout the investigation," Bieber's attorney Michael Rhodes told NBC News.
The release says the two men used the $1.35 million to "finance a lavish lifestyle for themselves and their accomplices."
Both defendants are facing up to 20 years in prison.