Photo: Mark Lennihan/AP Photo
DisgracedFyre Festival organizerWilliam “Billy” McFarlandhas received an early release from prison.
McFarland’s attorney Jason Russo did not immediately respond PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The 30-year-old Fyre CEO and founder was serving a six-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in March 2018 to wire fraud charges in connection with the failed festival.
In 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, McFarlandpetitioned for an early releaseover concerns that his preexisting health conditions made him particularly susceptible to contracting the virus.
In the docs, McFarland’s legal team describe their client as nonviolent offender, arguing that hisalleged medical history of asthma, severe allergies and heart issueswould place him at a severe risk should he contract COVID-19 behind bars.
The lawyers say that McFarland should be released to home confinement instead, which they claim he would have been a candidate for beginning in 2021.
“Mr. McFarland is not a risk to the community nor a threat to public safety,” the letter read, the two outlets reported. “The crime to which he pled guilty for was the non-violent financial crime of wire fraud. However, he is a low risk of recidivism for such financial crimes as he has explained that he has a supportive family that has attested to providing for his basic needs.”
In a statement to PEOPLE at the time, McFarland’s attorney Robert J. Hantman said, “As reflected in his filing and his personal plea to the court, Mr. McFarland hopes to redeem himself and dedicate himself to satisfying his legal obligations. This can be done only if he is healthy and alive.“Continued Hantman, “Judge Buchwald is a tough, fair and compassionate judge and we are confident that she will look at our request with an open mind.”
Sincereporting to jail in October 2018, McFarland apologized for his actions, opening up to PEOPLE in November 2018 about his regrets and hopes for the future.
source: people.com
