Pop stars have paid tribute to Backstreet Boys and *NSync founder Lou Pearlman, who has died in prison aged 62 while serving a 25-year sentence for a massive Ponzi scheme.
*NSync singer Lance Bass wrote on Twitter:
Word is that #LouPearlman has passed away. He might not have been a stand up businessman , but I (cont) https://t.co/nsczUEVOOQ
— Lance Bass (@LanceBass) August 20, 2016
Aaron Carter, younger brother of Backstreet Boy Nick added:
#LouPearlman my old manager died in prison… Rip Lou not the best business guy really at all but he did discover me karma is real
— KiD CaRTer (@aaroncarter) August 21, 2016
Ashley Parker Angel, who rose to fame in boyband O-Town after starring in Pearlman’s TV show Making The Band, wrote:
Love him or hate him, Lou gave many of us our start. It's a shame he let greed get in his way. #RIP #LouPearlman pic.twitter.com/u91HAuflio
— Ashley Parker Angel (@ParkerAngel) August 21, 2016
The mogul’s 300 million dollar (£230 million) Ponzi scheme through his Trans Continental companies was uncovered in 2006
He fled to Indonesia but was captured by authorities in 2007 and was convicted of fraud in 2008 and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
(Masako Watanabe/AP)
He founded the Backstreet Boys in Florida in 1993, uniting five unknown singers – Carter, AJ McLean, Howie D, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell – who went on the become the best-selling boy band of all time.
(Fiona Hanson/PA)
He replicated his success when he founded *NSync in 1995, the band that would propel Justin Timberlake to global stardom.
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