Former punk band bassist charged in $27M real estate scam

A former bassist for Indiana-based punk band The Ataris, Mike Davenport, has been charged with fraud for his involvement in a seven-year real estate scam that swindled $27 million from about 100,000 people.

The scam was based on setting up fake showings, which would be advertised on Craigslist, and charging prospective buyers/rents about $200 to set up an appointment to visit the property, then they would disappear, according to the New York Post. The telemarketing company behind the scheme was called American Standard and the FBI raided their offices in September 2016.

Davenport, and an implicated woman named Cynthia Rawlinson, were subsequently charged with wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. They face 30 years of jail time if found convicted. [NYP] — Erin Hudson