Portland Musician Impersonates Springsteen Manager

A Portland, Ore.-area musician has been accused of an elaborate scam that involves forged emails from Bruce Springsteen manager Jon Landau, among other details.

Kasey Anderson of Kasey Anderson & The Honkies is accused of organizing a fake benefit concert for the “West Memphis Three,” prisoners who were jailed for questionable reasons in Arkansas for almost 20 years.

Federal prosecutors accuse Anderson of convincing investors to buy into the event by dropping names like Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson and Jack White, raising more than $525,000. He’s since repaid $160,000 to some of the dozens of investors.

One report claims Anderson raised money for an album called Trapped Like a Ghost that would benefit the West Memphis Three, telling investors many famous musicians would contribute to the tracks.

He fabricated emails by Landau and by the wife of one of the West Memphis Three to raise money, according to federal prosecutors.

Photo: Ted S. Warren/AP

With his attorney, Corey Endo.

Anderson surrendered to federal officials in Seattle Jan. 29 to face wire fraud charges.