Branson performer pleads guilty to stealing from audience

James Garrett, a John Denver tribute performer in Branson, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to a fraud scheme in which he allegedly stole money from his own audience members. Garrett is accused of stealing at least $85,000 through the scheme.

Garrett, 65, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He could be subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison under federal statutes, according to a news release from Teresa Moore, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Garrett, who performed his act at the Branson IMAX theater, would ask audience members for contributions to his Diamond Jym Ranch Inc., a nonprofit formed in 2012 to ostensibly provide housing for homeless children. Garrett admitted to falsely telling audience members that their contributions would go toward homes he created for foster children in Branson and Texas.

In fact, Garrett used the funds for personal expenses, such as rent, taxes, dining out and credit card debt, according to the guilty plea.

“For several years, this performer took advantage of his own audiences by pulling at their heartstrings while stealing from their pockets,” Moore said in the release. “He cynically and greedily victimized donors who falsely believed they were helping foster children.

"There’s no way to know how much cash was actually stolen, but we intend to seek restitution for the victims law enforcement has identified, as well as prison time and a hefty fine.”