Kasey Anderson, a Portland musician, has been sentenced for a con involving a concert and album supposedly intended to benefit the West Memphis Three. For his crimes, Anderson was sentenced to four years in prison.
Apparently, Anderson defrauded investors out of $586,000 on promises that he would develop a concert and album that would benefit the West Memphis Three during the period that they were imprisoned. Anderson told investors that Tom Petty, Johnny Depp and Pearl Jam would be part of the concert. He also told investors that Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga and R.E.M. would be part of the album. None of those artists had any knowledge of Anderson's plan. Anderson was able to convince investors to give him money by developing a series of false e-mail addresses which appeared to be from relatives of the WM3 as well as representatives of the mentioned bands, including Springsteen's manager, John Landau.
Anderson stated:
"I am a deeply flawed and mentally ill person who made some terrible choices, causing so much emotional and financial damage to others. But I believe I have much to offer my community. I am so sorry for what Iâve done and want so badly to make it right. . . I lied to myself and others, and believing those lies, I told myself consistently that whatever was going on with me. . . I could fix it on my own. I convinced myself that it was normal."
Interestingly, Anderson did have some musical experience, having opened for Counting Crows (who actually once covered a tune written by Anderson) as well as being in a band with a member of The Presidents of the United States of America.