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US Marshals put Fyre Festival merchandise up for auction

Fyre - Gaston & Sheehan
Fyre - Gaston & Sheehan

US Marshals are auctioning merchandise from the Fyre Festival with the proceeds going to victims of the failed event.

More than 120 items including branded clothing will be sold to the highest bidder.

The 2017 festival was billed as "the cultural experience of the decade".

It was supposed to take place over two weekends in Exuma in the Bahamas.

Models and celebrities including Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski had promoted it on social media.

Customers who paid $1,200 to over $100,000 hoping to see Blink-182 and the hip-hop act Migos arrived and then learned musical acts were canceled.

Their luxury accommodations and gourmet food consisted of leaky white tents and packaged food, prompting attendees to lash out on social media.

Billy McFarland, the 28-year-old organiser, later admitted wire fraud, bank fraud and making false statements, and was sentenced to six years in prison.

He was required by the government to pay millions of dollars in restitution to scores of investors.

US Marshal Ralph Sozio, of the Southern District of New York, said: “This Fyre Festival-branded clothing and other items that were seized from Billy McFarland were originally intended to be sold at the Fyre Festival itself but were kept by McFarland, with the intent to sell the items and use the funds to commit further criminal acts while he was on pre-trial release.

Billy McFarland - AP
Billy McFarland - AP

"The proceeds from the sale of these items, all traceable to McFarland’s $26 million fraud, will go toward the victims of his crimes."

Among the items are shirts, jogging trousers, hats, and tokens emblazoned with "A conspiracy to change the entertainment world".

The lots included wristbands for a minimum bid of $10.

Baseball caps bearing the festival logo were already receiving bids of $300.

Gaston & Sheehan, a Texas-based auctioneer, is running the sale which ends on Aug 13.

According to the US Attorney's office at least 80 investors fell victim to the scheme.

The government of the Bahamas, where the largest industry is tourism, assisted in evacuating festival attendees and made clear it was not involved in the event.