ORLANDO (CN) - Lou Pearlman, who created the bands Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for fraud, but the federal judge who sentenced him said he would reduce that by 1 month for every $1 million Pearlman returned to the investors from whom he stole it.
Pearlman pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy, money laundering and lying in a bankruptcy proceeding.
Prosecutors say that in addition to creating the famous "boy bands," Pearlman stole millions of dollars from thousands of people over the years in investment scams.
U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp sentenced Pearlman this morning.
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