Dallas man charged with fraud, claimed to be concert promoter for Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj

A Dallas man faces federal fraud charges as authorities allege he falsely claimed to be a concert promoter for prominent artists such as Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj.

Carlos Desean Goodspeed, 43, was charged with three counts of wire fraud Tuesday, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Texas’ northern district wrote in a news release. Authorities said Goodspeed operated under the business name “Straight Like That Entertainment” and allegedly told investors “he was a concert promoter working in partnership with a multinational event marketing company.”

“He allegedly solicited hefty investments and guaranteed returns as high as 50% in a short period of time,” officials wrote in the release.

In July 2018, authorities said, Goodspeed allegedly requested $400,000 from one victim, promising he would pay them back and return a profit of a quarter-million dollars within four months. He told the person he would use the money to “promote touring shows for artists Nicki Minaj and Future.”

After the same investor wired $400,000 to Goodspeed’s business, authorities said he withdrew half of it to pay a court-appointment receiver, or a third party to protect property controlled by a person sued in a court case, in connection with a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit. Authorities said he wired another $20,000 to another duped investor and took out $100,000 in cash and cashier’s checks.

“He paid only a fraction of the investor’s $400,000 investment,” officials said.

In the SEC lawsuit, court records said Goodspeed said he was a booking agent for concerts and events and convinced investors to provide him with over $1 million to produce, promote and operate concerts headlined by Taylor Swift and Drake. Neither concert took place, court records said, and Goodspeed allegedly used the funds for “his lavish lifestyle and [to] pay back other investors from previous frauds he perpetrated.”

A U.S. district judge ruled in 2018 that he had to pay the money back to a court-appointed receiver along with interest and a civil penalty.

Goodspeed requested $50,000 from another investor in January 2022, authorities said, as he allegedly told the person that the funds would go toward concert tickets and suites for a Tyler, the Creator show.

The show took place, but authorities said Goodspeed did not pay the original sum of the loan or the return as promised and made excuses as to why. He told the investor he would be paid after two more concerts — a second one by Tyler, the Creator and another by Ludacris. The investor then wired another $130,000 to Straight Like That Entertainment.

Goodspeed allegedly used the new investment on personal expenses that included “rental payments at an upscale apartment complex, a purchase at a high-end retail store and airline fees and hotels.” Authorities said he also used the funds to make payments to other investors.

As a result of his alleged fraud, federal authorities said investors collectively lost over $1 million. Goodspeed was arrested Wednesday at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and made his first appearance in federal court Thursday.

The FBI’s Dallas office conducted the investigation, according to the office.