Topic / Subject

The U.S. DOJ says a Dallas man, Carlos Desean Goodspeed, was sentenced to 75 months for a $1.1M concert-promotion wire-fraud scheme.

TL;DR

Prosecutors say he sold investors a fake “big artist events” pitch, used funds for personal expenses, and now faces federal prison plus nearly $1.2M restitution.

Key Details

The U.S. Attorney’s Office (Northern District of Texas) says Carlos Desean Goodspeed, 45, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison. DOJ says he raised investor money by falsely claiming he was promoting concerts/events and would buy tickets/suites to resell for profit. DOJ says the court ordered restitution of nearly $1.2 million to victims. Local outlets report the pitch referenced high-profile artists/events as part of the investor lure.

Breakdown

This is a classic “industry access” scam: sell a story that sounds believable because it name-drops big events and big artists, then use the trust and the hype to pull cash.

The DOJ release makes it clear this wasn’t treated as a small-time hustle. Seventy-five months is a serious sentence, and the restitution order signals the court is aiming to claw money back for victims.

What makes this story resonate in music is the setting. Concert money and VIP inventory are already confusing and opaque to outsiders, which makes it an easy place for scammers to claim “insider deals” and “guaranteed returns.”

This case is also a reminder: if someone promises profit off tickets/suites with zero risk, that’s usually the red flag, not the opportunity.

What to Watch Next

Whether additional related cases or co-conspirators are referenced in future filings (if any). Restitution recovery updates (often slow, but victims care most about this). Any broader warnings from regulators about similar “concert investment” pitches.

Sources

U.S. DOJ (ND Texas) — Dallas Man Sentenced to 75 Months Federal Prison for $1.1M Concert Promotion Fraud Scheme

WFAA — Dallas man who posed as concert promoter for artists like Bad Bunny, Beyoncé sentenced (headline may vary)

CBS News Texas — Dallas man sentenced for stealing $1 million from investors in concert ticket and luxury box scheme (headline may vary)

Comment

What’s the biggest scam red flag to you name dropping big artists, “guaranteed” returns, or pressure to invest fast before a fake deadline?