A man who posed as a Sony Music Latin executive to collect $1.2 million from concert promoters for performances that never existed has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison, years after serving time for a nearly identical fraud scheme.
U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods sentenced Meceo Ray McEaddy, also known as Ray Annes, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in Manhattan. The judge also ordered three years of supervised release and approximately $1.2 million in restitution to the 20 people defrauded through the fake booking arrangements.
Prosecutors said McEaddy began the scheme in 2018, falsely presenting himself as a senior marketing executive at Sony Music Latin and claiming he could arrange performances by major recording artists. He persuaded aspiring concert promoters to wire him money for bookings that never materialized.
McEaddy used fabricated industry connections, false paperwork and forged signatures to make the offers appear legitimate. According to prosecutors, he forged the signature of a prominent musician to support his claims, although court filings did not identify the artist.
The fraud followed an earlier conviction for a similar scheme involving supposed appearances by Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. McEaddy served four years in state prison for that offense and resumed fraudulent booking activities shortly after his release in 2017.
Federal authorities indicted him in May 2025, and he later pleaded guilty to fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors cited his previous conviction and additional criminal history in asking Woods to impose a seven-year prison sentence.
In an October sentencing filing, the government argued that McEaddy had "again returned like clockwork to engaging in fraudulent behavior" after leaving prison. Prosecutors maintained that his repeated misconduct and the financial losses suffered by the promoters warranted a substantial sentence.
McEaddy's defense attorney sought a three-year term, arguing that his client had made efforts to take responsibility and atone for his conduct. The defense also contended that McEaddy had convinced himself he could secure performances by major artists despite lacking the necessary arrangements.
Woods imposed a 78-month sentence, six months below the government's recommendation and more than double the prison term requested by the defense. McEaddy must also serve three years under federal supervision following his release and repay approximately $1.2 million to those affected by the scheme.
