Corrupt ‘90s Music Maven Lou Pearlman Dies Behind Bars
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/HYJztBahy/480x251/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg?position=top 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/HYJztBahy/640x335/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg?position=top 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/HYJztBahy/768x402/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg?position=top 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/HYJztBahy/1024x536/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg?position=top 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/HYJztBahy/1280x670/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg?position=top 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/HYJztBahy/1440x753/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg?position=top 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/HYJztBahy/1600x837/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg?position=top 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/HYJztBahy/2160x1130/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg?position=top 2160w)
Aug. 21 2016, Updated 3:15 p.m. ET
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/c53_5udHr/480x270/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/c53_5udHr/640x360/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/c53_5udHr/768x432/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/c53_5udHr/1024x575/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/c53_5udHr/1280x719/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/c53_5udHr/1440x809/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/c53_5udHr/1600x899/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/c53_5udHr/2160x1213/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-pp.jpg 2160w)
Former music mogul Lou Pearlman died in prison, RadarOnline.com has learned.
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BIdWJjKjS/480x360/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-6.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BIdWJjKjS/640x480/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-6.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BIdWJjKjS/768x576/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-6.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BIdWJjKjS/1024x768/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-6.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BIdWJjKjS/1280x959/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-6.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BIdWJjKjS/1440x1079/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-6.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BIdWJjKjS/1600x1199/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-6.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BIdWJjKjS/2160x1618/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-6.jpg 2160w)
Pearlman, 62, died from an undisclosed illness, according to reports.
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BWl2LTAcS/480x328/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-5.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BWl2LTAcS/640x437/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-5.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BWl2LTAcS/768x524/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-5.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BWl2LTAcS/1024x699/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-5.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BWl2LTAcS/1280x873/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-5.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BWl2LTAcS/1440x982/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-5.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BWl2LTAcS/1600x1091/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-5.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/BWl2LTAcS/2160x1473/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-5.jpg 2160w)
He was serving a 25-year sentence for running a $300 million Ponzi scheme.
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/v6pu1FNMX/480x322/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-4.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/v6pu1FNMX/640x430/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-4.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/v6pu1FNMX/768x515/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-4.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/v6pu1FNMX/1024x687/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-4.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/v6pu1FNMX/1280x859/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-4.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/v6pu1FNMX/1440x966/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-4.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/v6pu1FNMX/1600x1073/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-4.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/v6pu1FNMX/2160x1449/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-4.jpg 2160w)
His career began when he created the Backstreet Boys — and went on to replicate his success in ‘N Sync. He later backed LFO and O-Town.
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/m1_91hxuF/480x333/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-3.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/m1_91hxuF/640x444/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-3.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/m1_91hxuF/768x533/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-3.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/m1_91hxuF/1024x711/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-3.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/m1_91hxuF/1280x888/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-3.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/m1_91hxuF/1440x999/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-3.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/m1_91hxuF/1600x1110/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-3.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/m1_91hxuF/2160x1499/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-3.jpg 2160w)
Later on, many of the groups he managed sued him for fraud and misrepresentation. The Backstreet Boys even claimed their contract was unfair in their 2000 suit.
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_XxCtf2A0/480x334/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-43.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_XxCtf2A0/640x445/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-43.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_XxCtf2A0/768x534/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-43.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_XxCtf2A0/1024x712/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-43.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_XxCtf2A0/1280x890/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-43.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_XxCtf2A0/1440x1001/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-43.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_XxCtf2A0/1600x1112/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-43.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/_XxCtf2A0/2160x1502/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-43.jpg 2160w)
Aaron Carter filed suit in 2002.
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/Wul3ejfZq/328x500/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-1.jpg 328w)
After many of his clients claimed he pocketed most of their money, he was convicted of conspiracy, money laundering and making false statements. Court documents revealed that he had his investors give money to false companies as well.
![lou pearlman dead backstreet boys nsync manager ponzi scheme](https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/refXXkBvO/480x267/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-2.jpg 480w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/refXXkBvO/640x356/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-2.jpg 640w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/refXXkBvO/768x427/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-2.jpg 768w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/refXXkBvO/1024x569/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-2.jpg 1024w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/refXXkBvO/1280x712/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-2.jpg 1280w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/refXXkBvO/1440x800/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-2.jpg 1440w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/refXXkBvO/1600x889/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-2.jpg 1600w, https://media.radaronline.com/brand-img/refXXkBvO/2160x1200/2016/08/lou-perlman-dead-backstreet-boys-nsync-manager-ponzi-scheme-2.jpg 2160w)
The judge in Pearlman’s case ruled that he could reduce his sentence by one year for each million paid back, but he never coughed up the cash. Pearlman was set to be released from prison in 2029.