Phony Promoter Peddles Lil’ Wayne

Police are searching for a man who allegedly pretended to book Lil’ Wayne at an Alabama nightclub and made off with about $45,000.

Esa Jones, manager at Club Illusions, told a local news affiliate that a man named Tony Lee of Coastal Boy Entertainment contracted with the club to do the June 21st concert.

"It looked planned, they printed tickets, had radio advertisements, ticket locations, it looks so legit," the club owner told NBC 15 in Mobile.

Jones said about 700 people were at the club the night of the show and Lee took the money up front. But around 1 a.m., club security confronted the promoter, who reportedly reassured them the rapper would be there.

"They started to anticipate Lil’ Wayne, and that’s when they made their escape out of the club," Jones said. "We got scammed really bad."

A surveillance video obtained by the TV station reportedly shows two men – one of them Lee – taking the cash box and emptying it into a trash bag. Lee then empties it into his pants and sits down. A few minutes later, the men were gone and the club owner was left to deal with a room full of angry fans.

"Once the last act went up, we had to inform everyone that Lil’ Wayne wasn’t performing, the promoters scammed the club," Jones said.

Lil’ Wayne was actually performing that night at the 19,400-capacity Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Jones plans to host a couple of customer appreciation nights at the club to make up for the ruse. No refunds were reportedly given.