Robin DiMaggio

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

Robin DiMaggio
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 27 months in a Federal prison and 1 year home confinement.[1]
Conviction(s)September 25, 2019
Criminal chargeGuilty of wire fraud/embezzlement: $750,000 from homeless children's charity.

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 27 months in federal prison and 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On August 5, 2016, the promoter wired $750,000.00 dollars to an account controlled by DiMaggio, who had withdrawn the money four days later.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) as well as 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]

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 and bankruptcy court records show in fact 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.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

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".[13][14] On September 25, 2019, DiMaggio pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 27 months federal prison time and 1 year home confinement.[15] He had faced a 20 year federal prison sentence.[16]

The case had previously heard in civil bankruptcy court where he had 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][17]

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.[18]

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.[19]

The Federal prison system has no parole. No comments were made in the sentencing agreement pertaining to the exposure of potential prison violence due in part to the nature of his crimes upon homeless and displaced children. As a Federal Inmate, he will be required to serve his time in a US Federal prison.

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.”[20]

The restitution hearing is to be set in the next few months. The FBI investigated the case.

Under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, Congress eliminated parole for federal defendants convicted of crimes committed after November 1, 1987. The Sentencing Reform Act also requires DiMaggio is to serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentences behind bars before becoming eligible for release.[21]

Discography

Solo album
Album title Release details
Blue Planet

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

References
  1. https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/ex-arsenio-hall-show-musical-director-sentenced-over-2-years-prison-embezzling-nearly-1
  2. "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. "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. https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/ex-arsenio-hall-show-musical-director-sentenced-over-2-years-prison-embezzling-nearly-1
  7. https://deadline.com/2020/10/arsenio-hall-show-ex-musical-director-robin-dimaggio-sentenced-to-27-months-in-prison-for-ripping-off-childrens-charity-1234597754/
  8. http://www.oc-breeze.com/2020/10/17/188846_former-talk-show-musical-director-sentenced-for-charity-fraud/
  9. https://www.sfvbj.com/news/2020/oct/15/former-arsenio-hall-show-music-director-sentenced-/
  10. https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2020/10/15/ex-arsenio-hall-show-drummer-sentenced-to.html
  11. https://www.ticklethewire.com/2020/10/16/ex-arsenio-hall-show-music-director-sentenced-for-embezzling-money-for-homeless-children/
  12. https://www.univision.com/noticias/criminalidad/prometio-un-concierto-para-recaudar-fondos-para-ninos-sin-hogar-pero-se-quedo-con-casi-1-millon-para-comprar-una-casa-y-pagar-deudas
  13. "Star drummer Robin DiMaggio accused of embezzling $750,000 from charity for homeless kids". Nbcnews.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  14. "UN Music Director Accused Of Embezzling $720K From Charity Concert – CBS Los Angeles". Losangeles.cbslocal.com. December 10, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  15. Inc, Docket Alarm. "USA v. DiMaggio, 2:18-cr-00891 (C.D.Cal.) via Docket Alarm". Docket Alarm.
  16. "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.
  17. "United States v. DiMaggio, 2:18-cr-00891". Courtlistener.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  18. https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/California_Central_District_Court/2--18-cr-00891/USA_v._DiMaggio/
  19. David Robb. "Former 'Arsenio Hall' Music Director Robin DiMaggio Charged With Embezzlement – Deadline". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  20. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/ex-musical-director-of-the-arsenio-hall-show-sentenced-for-embezzling-nearly-1m-from-charity-concert-for-homeless-children/
  21. "Prison Time Surges for Federal Inmates". Pewtrusts.org. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
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