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Ex-Pearl Jam Exec Charged With 33 Counts Of Theft
Rickey Charles Goodrich was charged with 25 counts of first-degree theft and eight counts of second-degree theft late last week, according to court documents.
Goodrich was hired by Pearl Jam Touring Co. in 2005 as the band’s accountant and financial officer. The next year he was hired by the band’s management company, Curtis Management, and took control of all financial matters relating to the band’s tours, according to SeattlePI.com, which notes he was also involved in managing Pearl Jam’s Ten Club fan club.
A detective told the court that although Pearl Jam changed business management over the years, Goodrich continued to have access to the tour money.
Photo: Scott Legato / RockStarProPhotography.com
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Noblesville, Ind.
The alleged embezzlement took place between Oct. 2007 and June 2010, according to the Seattle Times.
By late 2009 cash flow issues surfaced at Pearl Jam’s touring company and Ten Club. The band’s manager conducted a review of the issues and hired investigators.
The investigators discovered several suspicious wire transfers that Goodrich initiated from the management company, in addition to an alleged $134,000 in purchases to the company credit card.
Goodrich is also accused of claiming to make payments to band members and crew of thousands of dollars that “were largely unaccounted for,” according to SeattlePI.com.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports some of Goodrich’s biggest alleged purchases, including $20,879 spent on airline tickets for Goodrich and his family and $6,498 on wine. Some of the money allegedly went to spa treatments and life insurance plans.
Seattle Detective Stacy Litsjo told the court unauthorized purchases also include charges at hotels, restaurants, retail stores, iTunes, Amazon.com and vendors associated with two businesses owned by Goodrich.
After being confronted by investigators Goodrich came up with explanations for the missing funds but later repaid the company $55,000, according to SeattlePI.com. He was fired in Sept. 2010.
Seattle police launched a criminal investigation in January 2011.
Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for prosecutor Dan Satterberg, said that Goodrich could face between three and a half to nearly five years in prison if convicted, according to the Seattle Times.
According to court documents, Goodrich has allegedly admitted he owes the band’s management company $300,000. SeattlePI.com reports that the Seattle police say investigative expenses bring the total he owes up to $566,000.
Goodrich is expected to appear at Seattle’s King County Superior Court June 28 to enter an initial plea.