Business manager guilty of defrauding Ne-Yo, Brian McKnight

In this May 3, 2018 file photo, Ne-Yo arrives at the 3rd annual “Dear Mama: A Love Letter to Moms” at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. A federal jury convicted Kevin Foster, a business manager, of defrauding R&B artists Ne-Yo and Brian McKnight in a sports beverage scheme. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal jury has convicted a business manager of defrauding R&B artists Ne-Yo and Brian McKnight in a sports beverage scheme.

The panel in Ohio found 42-year-old Kevin Foster of Montclair, New Jersey, guilty of wire fraud, money laundering, bankruptcy fraud, tax evasion and filing false tax returns last week.

Prosecutors said Foster induced Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Smith, to invest $2 million into OXYWater under false representations. They said Foster invested an additional $1.5 million of Smith’s money without his consent and took out lines of credit by forging Smith’s name.

Authorities said he also defrauded McKnight to fund the operation and his lavish lifestyle of luxury cars, designer watches and season tickets to the New York Knicks and Giants.

Two others were previously convicted in the scheme.   /kga