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Utsick Arraignment Delayed Again
Jack Utsick, the Florida-based concert promoter who was extradited from Brazil last month to face accusations of mail fraud and money laundering connected to his former Worldwide Entertainment empire, still awaits arraignment in a Miami U.S. District Court.
2005 photo.
He was to be arraigned Jan. 9, but instead requested a continuance of that matter as well as of a detention hearing until Jan 21. He was represented by a temporary attorney, Philip Pitzer, rather than Michael Rosen, who appeared in court with Utsick Dec. 9.
Judge Jonathan Goodman ruled that Utsick would be held until he resolves his choice of defense attorneys, according to the Miami Herald. Prosecutor Jerrob Duffy had accused Rosen of improperly receiving $307,000 from his client before a Miami federal judge ordered Utsick to pay a $4.1 million civil settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2009.
Utsick was the world’s fourth-largest concert promoter at one time, promoting shows by The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Aerosmith and many others. He also produced a movie with Paris Hilton, “National Lampoon’s Pledge This!” which also landed in court.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and a court receiver accused Utsick of operating a Ponzi scheme, defrauding some 3,300 investors of about $300 million. He has maintained his innocence in the case.