Promoter behind failed Fyre Festival arrested

Federal prosecutors say Billy McFarland is charged with scheming to defraud

NEW YORK – The promoter behind a failed music festival in the Bahamas has been arrested in New York on a wire fraud charge.

Federal prosecutors say Billy McFarland was arrested Friday and is charged with scheming to defraud investors in his company, Fyre Media.

McFarland's Fyre Festival was sold as an ultra-luxurious event with headliners including rockers Blink-182 and the hip-hop act Migos.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim said McFarland actually "delivered a disaster."

Kim said McFarland presented fake documents to induce investors to put more than $1 million into his company "and the fiasco called the Fyre Festival."

An attorney who has represented McFarland did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Fyre Media's co-founder, the rapper Ja Rule, was not arrested. His real name is Jeffrey Atkins.