After claiming he was the representative for booking events for the band The Village People, a Florida man entered a guilty plea to charges that he pilfered over $12,000 from an Oregon Casino.
The U.S. attorney’s office stated that Florida resident 67-year-old Howard Harlib has a prior collection of legal cases involving “frauds and swindles” spanning over approximately 32-years.
Harlib, a Bronx, NY native who has been incarcerated in Florida since 2016 for infractions unrelated to the current charges, sent a flyer to the Coquille Indian Tribe’s Mill Casino in North Bend, Oregon in August 2015.
The information stated that The Village People would be available to play at their venue at the beginning of 2016, and could be booked through Harlib if they were interested.
When the casino reached out and discussed fees with Harlib, they agreed to send him a check for $12,500 in the name of “Howard Harlib, dba Premier Entertainment” to reserve the date for the show, and a contract was drawn up and signed.
Harlib cashed the check within 48-hours of receiving it, and the casino did not question the transaction until January 2016 when they found out the Village People were playing a show in a Florida venue at the same time they were supposed to be performing at Mill.
When trying to get in touch with Harlib, the casino said they were unsuccessful in their attempts.
When they spoke with an actual representative for The Village People, the casino became aware that Harlib was not connected to the band, and had no authority to book shows for them.
Last Tuesday, Harlib, who has prior convictions from 2004 for a similar incident where he booked The Temptations, The Supremes, and Jimmie Walker in two different locations, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He was reported as apologizing during his hearing and acknowledged that he had made mistakes.
Harlib was sentenced to time served for the charge, in addition to the judge ordering that he pay back the $12,500 that he took from The Mill Casino.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.