Robin DiMaggio

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Robin DiMaggio
RobinDiMaggio1.jpg
Robin DiMaggio in 2009
Born
Robin Christia DiMaggio

1971 (age 49–50)
Paris, France
OccupationMusician, Producer, Writer
Known forFelony Wire Fraud, Drummer
Criminal statusGuilty sentenced to 2 years 4 months in a Federal prison then 1 year of home confinement.[1]
Conviction(s)September 25, 2019
Criminal chargeGuilty of wire fraud/embezzlement: $750,000 from homeless children's charity.

Robin DiMaggio (born 1971) is an American convicted felon and a former drummer/percussionist originally based out of Los Angeles, California, United States.

In September 2019, DiMaggio pleaded guilty to charges by the FBI of Felony Wire Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in federal prison, then an additional 1 year of home confinement for robbing money from a charity for homeless children that had been displaced or left homeless due to war.[2]

Music career[]

As a drummer and percussionist, DiMaggio performed and recorded with many diverse artists. On September 9, 2013, DiMaggio took the role of Musical Director and drummer for the late night TV show the Arsenio Hall Show on CBS. Prior to Arsenio, he was briefly the house band drummer on the CW's game show Oh Sit and TBS's Lopez Tonight, hosted by George Lopez.

Embezzlement conviction[]

According to court documents, in May 2016, DiMaggio was originally contacted by a nonprofit org registered in Bulgaria to recreate a "Live Aid" style charity concert in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia to raise money for the homeless and displaced children of the wars in conflict zones worldwide.[3]

DiMaggio offered to contract and obtain talent for the event that was set for October 2016. Not long before the event was scheduled to take place, many in the Bulgarian foundation had doubts about the promised "galaxy of stars" including Mick Jagger to the city of Sofia for a big charity concert and people suspected early on that it was all just a big hoax.[4]

On August 5, 2016, the promoter wired $750,000.00 dollars to an account controlled by DiMaggio, who had withdrawn the money four days later. DiMaggio during a press conference[5] said he had received "verbal confirmations" concerning participation from Johnny Depp, Mick Jagger, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Rod Stewart, the band Earth, Wind and Fire, and others. Court records show that DiMaggio took the money, provided to him to escrow to secure the talent and used it as his own.

DiMaggio used the money to support his lifestyle and purchase a home for his wife. More money was spent on a Volvo ($35,209), another purchase of an auto for $24,000.00, over $15,000.00 in credit card payments as well as $53,821.91 in debit card and cash totaling over $37k.[3] He also transferred $150,000 to the bank account of his company, DiMagic Entertainment Inc.[6] None of the money was sent to the artists DiMaggio promised to book.[7] The sponsor of the charity event sued DiMaggio in Los Angeles Superior Court.[8]

Prior to his arrest and upon receiving a request from his victim for a refund, DiMaggio told the foundation the money had been delivered to musicians, although bankruptcy court records showed he had simply used the money as his own. Once confronted he told the victims that he was "Moving to Paris" his birthplace, presumably to avoid criminal prosecution. DiMaggio was found to have forged bank documents as well as deleted his correspondence during civil litigation and also filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in an attempt to delay justice.[9]

DiMaggio on September 25, 2019, was criminally convicted with his guilty plea to the charges that he embezzled over $750,000.00 from a charity for homeless children, a Bulgarian-based non-profit. The "Peace for You Peace for Me Foundation".[10][11] On September 25, 2019, DiMaggio pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 27 months federal prison time and 1 year home confinement.[12] He had faced a 20 year federal prison sentence.[13]

The case had previously been heard in a civil bankruptcy court where DiMaggio admitted he bought his ex-wife's home with the money. The 'Peace for You Peace for Me Foundation' was awarded a $1.2 million award in Mr. DiMaggio's bankruptcy court case.[3][2][14]

Prison sentence[]

On October 14, 2020 DiMaggio was sentenced to 27 months in a Federal prison and an additional 1 year of home confinement after his release. DiMaggio was ordered to surrender no later than May 21, 2021.[15]

DiMaggio had originally faced incarceration for up to 20 years, in a U.S. Federal Prison in exchange for his guilty plea for stealing money from homeless children.[16]

According to the KTLA channel 5 News report, "Judge Dolly M. Gee, sentencing DiMaggio Wednesday October 14, 2020, the Judge described his actions as “A despicable crime of sheer greed.”[17]

Discography[]

Solo album[]

Album title Release details
Blue Planet

DVDs[]

  • 2009: Planet Groove (ISBN 9781423464716) – drum training DVD

References[]

  1. ^ "Ex-'Arsenio Hall Show' Musical Director Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million Intended for Charity Concert". www.justice.gov. October 14, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "United Nations Musical Director Arrested on Federal Wire Fraud Charge Alleging $750,000 Embezzlement from a Charity Concert | USAO-CDCA | Department of Justice". Justice.gov. December 10, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "United States of America v. Robert DiMaggio" (PDF). Courtlistener.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  4. ^ "Bulgarians Doubt Stars will Show up for Charity Concert". Balkaninsight.com. July 14, 2016.
  5. ^ ""PEACE FOR YOU PEACE FOR ME" pressnews conference". youtube.com. July 12, 2016.
  6. ^ "Former 'Arsenio Hall Show' Music Director Sentenced for Embezzlement | San Fernando Valley Business Journal". www.sfvbj.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  7. ^ Robb, David; Robb, David (October 15, 2020). "'Arsenio Hall Show' Ex-Musical Director Robin DiMaggio Sentenced To 27 Months In Prison For Ripping Off Children's Charity". Deadline. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "Former talk-show musical director sentenced for charity fraud". Orange County Breeze. October 17, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "Ex-'Arsenio Hall Show' Musical Director Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million Intended for Charity Concert". www.justice.gov. October 14, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Star drummer Robin DiMaggio accused of embezzling $750,000 from charity for homeless kids". Nbcnews.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "UN Music Director Accused Of Embezzling $720K From Charity Concert – CBS Los Angeles". Losangeles.cbslocal.com. December 10, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  12. ^ Inc, Docket Alarm. "USA v. DiMaggio, 2:18-cr-00891 (C.D.Cal.) via Docket Alarm". Docket Alarm.
  13. ^ "Woodland Hills drummer, former 'Arsenio Hall Show' band leader, pleads guilty to embezzling $750K from homeless children's charity". Dailynews.com. September 25, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "United States v. DiMaggio, 2:18-cr-00891". Courtlistener.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  15. ^ Inc, Docket Alarm. "USA v. DiMaggio, 2:18-cr-00891 (C.D.Cal.)". Docket Alarm. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  16. ^ David Robb. "Former 'Arsenio Hall' Music Director Robin DiMaggio Charged With Embezzlement – Deadline". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  17. ^ "Ex-musical director of 'The Arsenio Hall Show' sentenced for embezzling nearly $1M from charity concert for homeless children". KTLA. October 15, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2021.

External links[]


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