I of two Wu-Tang Association imposters was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

A Florida homo, who pleaded guilty concluding year of committing wire fraud while pretending to be a member of the Wu-Tang Association and Jay-Z'south Roc Nation visitor, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison. Twenty-nine-year-old Aaron Barnes-Burpo of Crestview, Florida, received the sentence last Monday, March 15, according to David Estes, the acting U.South. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. He volition as well take to pay nearly US$300,000 to 19 businesses he defrauded

His co-conspirator, 52-twelvemonth-one-time Walker Washington, is notwithstanding pending sentencing in the matter. Barnes-Burpo was defenseless after staff at a Fairfield Inn and Suites in Augusta, Georgia, picked up on some discrepancies and notified the authorities. He claimed to be a representative of Roc Nation and tried to book 10 rooms. He likewise tried to have Usa$2,500 credit applied to a king suite supposedly for an artist and his entourage.

He also requested that the hotel staff not charge the credit card he gave every bit he wanted to pay using a certified cheque. He used an email address resembling Roc Nation to try and make his claim seem more legit. Withal, the hotel director of sales noticed that someone using the same address tried to book rooms weeks before. Following a telephone call to a legal representative at Roc Nation, information technology was confirmed that it was a scam. A representative at Roc Nation also confirmed that at least four hotels had chosen with like queries.

He was eventually caught red-handed by special agents at the same hotel. After a search of Barnes-Burpo's vehicle, they establish keys from hotels from across the country and a newspaper with credit bill of fare numbers written on it. According to Interim U.S. Attorney Estes: "For several weeks, these men defrauded multiple businesses by posing as famous musical artists and their retinue."

Other reports indicate that the men walked out on two tabs worth $45,000 and $39,000 at Georgian Terrace Hotel and Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. Barnes-Burpo will besides accept to serve three years of supervised release after finishing his prison term.