Ticket scalping is a frustrating reality for music-lovers these days. How often have you missed out on a $70 ticket, only to find it selling for thrice as much? How often have you wanted those responsible to get their comeuppance? Well, some ticket scalpers are finally getting their own back.

As Rolling Stone reports, two men in Americahave been hadcriminal charges put to them after being accused of running a ticket scalping Ponzi scheme worth $81 million dollars.

Steven Simmons and Joseph Meli have been charged with numerous offences, including securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy in relation to a scheme in which theydefrauded investors.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, the men allegedly raised $81 million from 125 investors, with intentions of using the money to buy tickets to high-profile events, such as Adele concerts, and the Broadway musicalHamilton, only to resell them later at a hugely inflated price.

The men promised investors they would receive back their principal investments, in addition to a 10 percent annualised return, and 50% of any left over profits.

As it turns out, the accused men instead used all but $30 million of those investments to repay earlier investors from their own companies and to live lavishly via jewellery, and gambling at high-end casinos.

While numerous touring companies have hit out at scalpers in the past, nothing has changed much, and we’re still seeing hugely inflated prices on the second-hand market still. But with high-profile cases like this being brought to light,and the passing of the recent US law that can see scalpers using ticket bots jailed, who knows, we might be getting closer to that light at the end of the tunnel.

This article originally appeared on Tone Deaf.View it at its original location here.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine