Rapper G Herbo Pleads Guilty To $140,000 Scheme To Charter Jets, Buy Designer Puppies
G-Herbo is facing up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements in federal court on Friday, July 28.
According to the Associated Press, G-Herbo, born Herbert Wright III, and several others were charged with an elaborate scheme to use stolen credit card information to fund a lavish lifestyle including private jets, exotic car rentals, a luxury vacation rental and even expensive designer puppies.
"Mr. Wright used stolen account information as his very own unlimited funding source, using victims’ payment cards to finance an extravagant lifestyle and advance his career," acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in a statement.
He copped to nearly $140,000 in victim losses. He faces up to 20 years in prison, with five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for his part in the fraud scheme, according to a Department of Justice news release.
With his guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed several counts of aggravated identity theft.
Also charged in the case is Antonio Strong, a Chicago music promoter and manager and Joseph Williams — another Chicago rapper known as “Joe Rodeo” and “Rockstar Rodie.”
The AP reports that Strong used text messages, social media messages and emails to share account information taken from dark websites from at least March 2017 to November 2018.
The purchases included chartered jets, Jamaican vacations, private chef, security guard services, and limousine rides—even purchases of designer puppies. The scheme is alleged to have racked up $1.5 million in fraudulent charges.
The rapper released his debut mixtapes Welcome to Fazoland and Pistol P Project in 2014 and frequently rapped about post-traumatic stress, gun violence, drug use and sales, and most recently fatherhood.
He reportedly started a youth program called Swervin’ Through Stress intended to provide Chicago youth with tools to navigate mental health challenges.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 7.
