Fyre Festival, the “luxury” music festival hosted by Ja Rule that turned out to be a terrifying empty Bahamian beach covered in unbuilt furniture and wild dogs, already has several lawsuits stacked against it for fraud. And now, just when you thought it could not get any worse, the festival is reportedly being investigated by the FBI.
The New York Times reports that the festival has become the focus of a federal investigation with authorities “looking into possible mail, wire and securities fraud.” The investigation is being overseen by a prosecutor in the complex frauds and cybercrime unit.
Aside from the many attendees who were initially stranded, the problems of Fyre Festival continue even after the organizers and guests have left Great Exuma. Headliner Blink-182 and other businesses still have gear stuck in customs, which is being held by the Bahamian government because the festival owes more than $330,000 in customs fees. Many people who worked on Fyre, like carpenters and website designers, have not been paid, and the lack of payment is having real negative consequences on their ability to live their day-to-day lives. Bahamas restaurant owner MaryAnn Rolle, for example, has not been paid the $134,000 she is owed after catering meals to the festival crew. “I’m struggling,” she told the New York Times. “It’s embarrassing.”