A man claiming to represent the Village People band pleaded guilty to fraud after scamming an Oregon tribal casino out of $12,500. He claimed he could book the Village People at the casino and took money up front as part of the scam.
Macho Man
Howard Harlib, 67, has been in custody in Florida since 2016, when he perpetrated a bizarre and brazen scam on a casino: pretending to represent the Village People. And apparently, this was not his first time he perpetrated the scam.
Harlib circulated printed brochures to casinos advertising his fake company, Premier Entertainment. The brochure offered to book dates for live performances of the Village People, and at least one casino took him up on the offer. The Mill Casino in North Bend, Oregon, was the unlucky dupe.
The Mill Casino, a tribal casino owned and operated by the Coquille Indians, received a flier from Harlib. He asked if the casino would be interested in booking the Village People for a live performance, and they began negotiations. After coming to an agreement, the casino cut a check in the amount of $12,500 to Harlib. But the band never showed up.
Cowboys, Indians, and Cops
The Village People were a popular disco band in the 70s, with big hits “Macho Man”, “In the Navy”, and “Y.M.C.A.” The band dressed up in outlandish costumes: a cowboy, an Indian, a construction worker, a sailor, a biker, and a cop. Years later, they still make appearances around the country, which made it easier for Harlib to perpetrate his scheme.
O povo real da aldeia não teve nada a ver com o incidente e negou que todos conhecessem Howard Harlib.De fato, o Mill Casino descobriu que o pessoal da vila estava tocando na Flórida na mesma noite em que estavam programados para aparecer no moinho.Foi quando eles sabiam que algo estava errado.As tentativas de entrar em contato com Harlib falharam e o cassino entrou em contato com o povo da vila, que confirmou que Harlib não teve associação com a banda.
Harlib foi preso e se declarou culpado de fraude eletrônica, foi acusado em abril de 2019 e condenado à prisão.Ele foi condenado a pagar os US $ 12.500 ao cassino do moinho. E este não foi o primeiro rodeio de Harlib.Desde 2004, ele afirmou falsamente representar as supremas e as tentações.Ele conseguiu organizar duas reservas falsas para essas lendas da alma e foi preso por cinco anos pelo crime.
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