Lil’ Flip Concert Scam

Police in Terre Haute, Ind., reportedly have a man in custody who may be responsible for promoting a fake concert by Houston-based rapper Lil’ Flip.

The Terre Haute Police Department was expected to announce the suspect’s name at press time.

Lil’ Flip, whose real name is Wesley Eric Weston, was supposedly scheduled to perform at the “Lil’ Flip Fest Spring 2005,” at the Wabash County Fairgrounds April 2nd, but the rapper never showed up. A local retailer had sold 741 tickets at $20 each, according to the Indiana Statesman.

Prior to the concert, a “promoter” picked up the ticket proceeds.

“Right now we are trying to get an I.D. on the man who presented himself as Bobby West of Bobby West Productions,” detective Michele Barrett told the Statesman April 6th.

Meanwhile, Weston’s management company, New York-based Kingpin Entertainment Group, contends the rapper had nothing to do with the bogus gig.

“Lil’ Flip was not contracted nor even aware of the show in Terre Haute, Indiana,” manager/attorney Sandy Lal told Pollstar. “This was a complete scam played on his fans by the people behind it. A full investigation and subsequent legal action, both criminal and civil, are under way.”

If the man in custody is confirmed as West and it is proven he took the ticket money for the concert, he could be charged with a felony.

At press time, ticket holders’ names, phone numbers and stub numbers were being taken. It wasn’t certain if fans would receive refunds.