Why was former *NSYNC manager Lou Pearlman in prison anyway?

Lou Pearlman, in a picture with members of Nsync and Backstreet Boys.

Backstreet Boys creator Lou Pearlman died from an “ongoing cardiac problem”.

According to the inmate database of the US Federal Bureau of Prisons, Pearlman died on Friday, August 19, 2016, while serving time following a conviction for fraud.

The founder of legendary bands such as Backstreet Boys and NSync was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he was accused of running one of the largest and longest-running Ponzi schemes in history, leaving more than $300 million in debts.

But Pearlman’s shady business was finally discovered in 2006 when investigators revealed he had conned investors for more than $300 million.

Pearlman was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the condition that one month would be taken off his sentence for every million he paid back but he never paid any of the money. The Backstreet Boys, whom Pearlman founded in 1993, went on to become the best-selling boy band ever.

A cause of death was not listed in federal records.

He was indicted on charges of conspiracy, money laundering and making false statements.

Over time, the majority of groups Pearlman managed sued him in Federal Court for fraud and misrepresentation.

Wright and her ex-husband Johnny were hired by Pearlman in the early 1990s to help break BSB beyond the mall-and-amusement parks scene.

With the news of his recent passing, many people likely wondered how his former clients would react to his death.

Former NSYNC members Justin Timberlake and Lance Bass posted messages on Twitter. “He might not have been a stand up businessman, but I wouldn’t be doing what I love today [without] his influence”, said Bass.

The rise of Lou Pearlman’s empire came to a screeching halt in the late 1990s. Members had mixed emotions at the news of his death, according to the New York Daily News.