LOS ANGELES – A Grammy Award-winning music producer was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for fraudulently using his clients’ credit card information to purchase services for his wedding, as well as airline fares and hotel reservations for himself and his family.
Anthony Wade Evans, a.k.a. “Devine Evans,” 45, of Porter Ranch, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who also ordered him to pay $34,810 in restitution to American Express.
Evans pleaded guilty in December 2018 to one count of aggravated identity theft.
From June 2017 until March 2018, Evans unlawfully used the American Express credit card belonging to a client to book flights and pay for other travel arrangements for himself and his family members.
The victim’s credit card – which was still active, even though it had been reported lost or stolen one year earlier – was used to rack up 146 unauthorized charges totaling approximately $37,729, according to court documents. In May 2018, this victim’s business manager called American Express and reported suspicious transactions on the client’s credit card.
In addition, from April 2017 until August 2017, Evans unlawfully used an American Express credit card belonging to a different client. Evans, without that victim’s authorization, used the card to purchase rental services and other event-related services for his wedding. Evans illegally incurred approximately $63,063 in unauthorized charges to this card.
The total loss in this case was $100,792.
The United States Secret Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this matter.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keith D. Ellison of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering and Racketeering Section.
Release No. 19-246
