Northwest musician Kasey Anderson recieves 46 month sentence for scamming investors for ‘Springsteen, Pearl Jam, R.E.M projects’

Kasey Anderson, 33, of Vancouver, Wash., the frontman and guitarist for the alt-country group Kasey Anderson and the Honkies, pleaded guilty in August 2013 to defrauding investors who believed they were investing in legitimate albums and concerts, including projects featuring major recording artists and celebrities. The investors gave him over $590,000 for projects that he claimed were with artists such as Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M. but the projects didn’t actually exist.

In addition to the 46 months sentence, U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton also ordered Anderson to pay $594,636 in restitution and said, “The offense is a serious one. You let down a lot of people.”

Anderson also sought investors for his own album and tours, and the record of another musician. As part of the solicitation for the compilation album, Anderson represented that a portion of the proceeds from the record would support the legal defense fund for the “West Memphis Three,” three men convicted of murder in Arkansas in 1994, who had garnered significant attention and support from people who believed in their innocence.

Anderson claimed to have agreements signed by various music stars and a family member of one of the West Memphis Three. No such agreements existed, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said.

In all, Anderson took in more than $590,000 from more than 30 investors.