MediaMuv L.L.C. Principal Pleads Guilty to Stealing Millions in Music Royalties

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jose Teran, 32, of Scottsdale, Arizona, pleaded guilty last week to Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, and Transactional Money Laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2023, before United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes.

Teran pleaded guilty to charges from a federal indictment issued on November 16, 2021. The indictment charged Teran and Webster Batista with 30 felony counts involving Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Transactional Money Laundering, and Aggravated Identity Theft. In pleading guilty, Teran admitted to conspiring with Batista to monetize music on Y.T. that he had no lawful rights to monetize or otherwise control. Teran further admitted that the entity, MediaMuv L.L.C., was created for the purpose of falsely claiming ownership over music recordings. He admitted that false claims were made to Y.T. that MediaMuv L.L.C. owned over 50,000 songs. Teran also admitted that he and Batista fraudulently received approximately $23,400,000 from their fraudulent scheme.

Teran faces up to five years in prison for the Conspiracy conviction, up to 20 years for the Wire Fraud conviction, and up to 10 years for the Transactional Money Laundering conviction. He may also be fined up to $250,000 per felony conviction.

Batista pleaded guilty to Conspiracy and Wire Fraud on April 21, 2022.

Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Raymond K. Woo and Seth T. Goertz, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.

If you believe you were defrauded by the defendants in this case, please contact our Victim Witness Section at usaaz.victimassist@usdoj.gov.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-21-0955-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-018_Teran

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