Almost one month after beingsentenced to six years in prison,William “Billy” McFarland— the man behind 2017’s disastrous Fyre Festival — is speaking out. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the beleaguered promoter, 26, opens up about his regrets and hopes for the future.
Patrick McMullan via Getty
Instead, festival goers touched down on the island andwalked into chaos. Rather than the deluxe accommodations that were advertised, guests were provided with flimsy tents and cheese sandwiches distributed from the back of trucks. One person in attendancewrote on Twitterthat there was barely “any food or water or security or electricity.” Many of the artists had pulled out due toserious organizational flaws and ramshackle conditions.
Healso pleaded guiltyto making false statements to federal law enforcement. On Oct. 11, a Manhattan federal court sentenced McFarland to six years in prison.
“Billy McFarland has shown a disturbing pattern of deception, which resulted in investors and customers losing over $26 million in two separate fraud schemes,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Bermansaid in a statement after the ruling. “As he had previously admitted, Billy McFarland did not deliver on his promises to his investors and customers. Today, McFarland found out the hard way that empty promises don’t lead to jet-setting, champagne, and extravagant parties – they lead to federal prison.”
Along with his prison sentence, he will have three years of supervised release and a $500 special assessment. Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald also ordered him to forfeit $26,191,306.28.
Today McFarland remains resourceful yet hopeful. “I’m devastated, but accepting, and I’ll use this opportunity to live my apology and become the family member, friend, business person and good citizen I should have been all along,” he tells PEOPLE. “I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me every step of the way. Your love keeps me focused. Your hope keeps me motivated. Earning your forgiveness will fuel the rest of my days.”
source: people.com
