BALTIMORE (AP) - A Maryland rap artist has pleaded guilty to a federal charge stemming from accusations that he used a company credit card to make $4.1 million in unauthorized purchases.
The office of the U.S. Attorney in Maryland on Monday announced that 32-year-old Chad Arrington, who’s known as “Chad Focus,” pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. The resident of Randallstown will be required to pay restitution in the full amount as part of his plea agreement.
Prosecutors said Arrington was employed by an unidentified company as a search engine optimization specialist between 2011 and 2018 and was assigned a credit card for business expenses. They alleged that between January 2015 and August 2018, Arrington and four co-conspirators used the card to promote the Chad Focus brand and to make personal purchases.
Prosecutors say Arrington’s unauthorized purchases included sound equipment, studio kits and instruments.
Authorities also accused the co-conspirators of kicking back hundreds of thousands of dollars to Arrington by funneling cash payments to Arrington and to accounts he controlled.
Arrington faces up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 14.
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