Federal prosecutors say Maryland rapper Chad Arrington, who performs as Chad Focus, used a company credit card to spend $4.1 million on purchases that promoted his music career. He has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. An indictment is an accusation, not a finding of guilt, and his response was not included in the initial reports.
Prosecutors allege the activity took place between January 2015 and August 2016. According to the indictment, Arrington worked as a search engine analyst at an unnamed company that issued him a card for business expenses. U.S. Attorney for Maryland Robert Hur said, “He was using that company credit card to make purchases for himself.”
Court documents allege Arrington forged supervisor signatures to approve purchases and had co-conspirators use computer software to falsify billing statements. Prosecutors say more than $1.5 million went to businesses owned by those accomplices, who allegedly kicked back hundreds of thousands of dollars to him.
The indictment says the money paid for concert tickets, billboards, audio equipment and travel. Prosecutors also allege he bought social media followers and paid outside platforms to boost his streaming plays.
Investigators also say the card was tied to other ventures. In 2018, it was allegedly used for more than $80,000 in electric bikes, hoverboards and scooters, plus a $25,000 charge for bike sharing stations around Maryland.
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