ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A purported agent for a popular Memphis-based rapper has been ordered to appear in St. Louis County Circuit Court next month for allegedly scamming a promoter by overcharging him for a performance.
According to the St. Louis County Police Department’s probable cause statement, the incident happened between Nov. 11-13, 2023.
Police said the victim, a self-employed musician and promoter, contacted Trumaine Epps-Barnett, who was acting as an agent for rapper Key Glock. The victim wanted to hire Key Glock for a performance.
Initially, Trumaine-Epps said the performance would cost the victim $90,000, police said. However, Trumaine-Epps later told the victim the price had gone up—at the artist and label’s insistence—to $95,000.
The victim was told he could make two separate payments to cover the price: $52,500 and $42,500.
Police said the victim signed a contract with Trumaine-Epps and then wired the first payment to Trumaine-Epps’ bank account in St. Louis County.
A representative of the record label contacted the victim and asked about the contract. During that discussion, the victim saw a copy of the original contract, stipulating Key Glock’s pay was only $85,000, payable in two installments of $42,500.
When contacted by the victim, police said Trumaine-Epps admitted to altering the terms of the contract and described the $10,000 upcharge as a “finder’s fee” for facilitating the deal.
Police said Trumaine-Epps never disclosed a finder’s fee to the victim.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Epps-Barnett with stealing – $750 or more. Epps-Barnett is due in court on September 24.
