When Swizz Beatz received $800,000 to perform at the birthday celebration for now-embattled Malaysian businessman Jho Low in Las Vegas in 2012, the money he was paid was allegedly part of an elaborate $7-billion scam, Page Six reports.
Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris and Chris Brown are also among those who were reportedly paid to perform or appear at the massive party.
According to Singapore authorities, the Grammy-winning beatmaker was paid with money illegally siphoned off from Low’s 1MDB development fund.
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“Swizz should have known better,” a source told Page Six. “[Swizz Beatz and his wife Alicia Keys] didn’t like him, but they did like his money.”
He’s the latest celebrity to get caught up in the scandal alongside Leonardo DiCaprio who funded Wolf of Wall Street with money allegedly stolen from 1MDB under the guise of a Hollywood production company that was co-created by the Malaysian prime minister’s stepson.
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This isn’t the first time the 38-year-old producer has been caught up in shady business. In September, he was served with a lawsuit for $42 million for his alleged involvement in a luxury car service scheme that illegally resold exotic whips for profits. He denies he had anything to do with any scam, saying he is an “innocent pawn” in it all.
On the flip side, according to TMZ, Beatz was able to settle his massive IRS debt. He paid Uncle Sam $2 million in taxes for 2008 to 2010 and 2014 to 2015.
