Fyre Festival Organizer William McFarland Gets Early Prison Release

Fyre Festival organizer William McFarland got an early prison release from federal prison custody and moved into a halfway house on Wednesday. The 30-year-old fraudster was transferred into "community confinement" in New York on March 30, as confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to USA Today News.

The agency said that McFarland is expected to remain in the conferment facility throughout August, citing The First Step Act Release for his early release. The measure allows inmates to earn "increased good conduct time" while also expanding opportunities for "inmate placement into residential reentry centers or home confinement."

McFarland's lawyer, Jason Russo, said that the Fyre Festival organizer is serving the remainder of his remaining time in a halfway house in the New York City area.

Russo added that it is expected that McFarland will be in the confinement facility for approximately six months.

McFarland's attorney also said that his client is forming a team to organize and plan for projects that will let him earn the restitution for all those affected.

Russo noted that it is McFarland's sole focus and priority at this time.

William McFarland Prison Sentence

In his sentencing released by the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said that McFarland has shown a "disturbing pattern of deception," which led to investors and customers losing over $26 million in two separate fraud schemes.

Berman added that McFarland found that "empty promises don't lead to jet-setting, champagne, and extravagant parties." Instead, it leads to federal prison.

The New York Times reported in April 2021 that McFarland has been placed in solitary confinement and has participated in a new podcast about his crimes.

At the time, the Bureau of Prisons spokesman in Washington declined to comment, noting that the agency never discusses the housing arrangements of inmates for privacy reasons.

Russo noted that inmates are allowed to use disposable cameras to take photos, and those were screened before they can be kept or mailed out.

McFarland was interviewed by the podcaster Jordan Harbinger on the first episode of "Dumpster Fyre."

Fyre Festival

In 2017, Fyre Festival was the most talked-about festival experience. It was also advertised by famous personalities such as Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Baldwin, according to a BBC News report.

It was promoted as a glamorous party on a deserted island, with tickets costing up to $100,000. Guests who booked for the festival were promised luxury accommodation and "the best in food, art, music, and adventure" in the Bahamas.

However, upon coming to the destination, guests were greeted with mattresses on rain-soaked floors, meals of cheese slices on bread, and their luggage thrown into an unlit car park.

One blogger and podcaster, Seth Crossno, said that his three friends had spent $45,000 on tickets, travel, and luxury accommodation.

Crossno noted that when they turned up at the site, there were still workers, pick-up trucks, and 18-wheelers everywhere.

Crossno said that everyone expected that all guests were influencers and wealthy.

McFarland was revealed to have failed to pay workers on the island for their time or resources.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Organizer of Fyre music festival arrested and charged with wire fraud - from ABC News