The Ponzi Scheme Behind 90s Boy Bands

Lou Pearlman blessed our radios with 90s boy bands, with money stolen out of investors' pockets. He showed us that white-collar crime pays really well, until it doesn't.

Read more about the con-man behind Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and O-Town below.

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MAN BEHIND THE BOY BANDS Lou Pearlman launched the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, O-Town, Aaron Carter, LFO, Take 5, and Innocense, among others. He did it Source: Hollywood Reporter

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HE WAS A CON MAN FROM THE START Oer Whoknl Ov. Sreond Vader Pi Lore thde Betieye it or IL ice fus La Enforc Dir He got his start by founding a helicop

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HE THEN STARTED TRANSCONTINENTAL AIRLINES He convinced investors to get in on the ground floor of his fleet of planes and to contribute to the Employe

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THE BACKSTREET BOYS WERE FUNDED BY THE SCHEME FIRST After chartering a plane for New Kids on the Block, Pearlman decided to get into the boy band busi

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HE USED THE SAME METHODS FOR NSYNC He intentionally developed a rivalry between the groups, So he could be the financial winner of the feud. CRACKED.C

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HE USED THEIR FAME TO SUPPORT GAIN INVESTORS He'd take potential investors for Transcontinental to the studio to see the bands recording. CRACKED.COM

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EVERY BAND IN HIS ROSTER SUED HIM Although he bestowed fame and fortune upon his bands, he also robbed them. When *NSYNC had a number one album, they Source: ABC News

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HE WAS ACCUSED OF MOLESTATION nforcement count There were also rumors that he molested boys in his bands. Vanity Fair wrote an expose covering this bu

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IN 2006, THE TRANSCON CON WAS UP Bacd ir A week after an investigation was opened into his Transcon businesses, Pearlman fled the country.

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INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED TRANSCONTINENTAL AIRLINES HAD NO PLANES, EMPLOYEES, OR REVENUE. Lance Bass said he'd never flown on a Transcontinental plane.Source: Hollywood Reporter

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IN 2008, HE WAS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON. Pearlman died in prison in 2016. He was 62. CRACKED.COM