Jan. 19 (UPI) — An entertainment manager has admitted to embezzling from Grammy-winning singer Alanis Morissette.
Jonathan Todd Schwartz confessed in a plea agreement Wednesday to stealing more than $6.5 million from clients, including $4.8 million from the 42-year-old alternative rock star, according to Deadline.
The BBC reported Schwartz, a former partner at GSO Business Management, handled Morissette’s finances between 2009 and 2016. He reportedly lied and claimed he invested the money in illegal marijuana growing businesses when initially questioned about the theft.
“When confronted about the missing funds, defendant falsely stated that the money was an ‘investment’ in illegal marijuana ‘grow’ businesses and that he and other GSO employees, none of whom the defendant could identify, had delivered the cash to people, also unidentified, associated with the marijuana business,” the plea agreement said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Schwartz was charged with wire fraud and subscribing to a false tax return. He will appear in court Feb. 1, and reportedly be sentenced to serve between four and six years in prison and pay $8.2 million in restitution in accordance with the plea deal.
“Mr. Schwartz was hired to protect his clients’ money by managing it professionally, but instead misappropriated millions to enrich himself,” Deirdre Fike, the FBI Los Angeles office assistant director, said.
Morissette last released the album “Havoc and Bright Lights” in 2012. The singer welcomed her second child, daughter Onyx Solace, with husband Souleye in July.
