THE former business manager for Alanis Morissette admitted embezzling more than US$7 million from the singer and other celebrities and agreed to plead guilty to federal charges, prosecutors said Wednesday.

    Jonathan Todd Schwartz, 48, of Los Angeles, was charged with wire fraud and filing a false tax return for failing to report the embezzled funds, prosecutors said.

    Schwartz admitted stealing nearly US$5 million from Morissette between May 2010 and January 2014. He used the money personally and falsely listed the cash withdrawals as “sundry/personal expenses” to cover up the crime.

    When confronted about the theft, Schwartz lied and said he invested the money in an illegal marijuana growing business, prosecutors said.

    Schwartz also admitted to stealing US$2.3 million from five other clients who were not named in court documents or disclosed by attorneys in the case. Defense lawyer Nathan Hochman said Schwartz had fully cooperated with investigators and accepted responsibility.

    His plea deal calls for a sentence between four and six years in federal prison, though a judge could sentence him up to 23 years on the charges.

    Schwartz had offered financial guidance to some of the biggest stars while working at GSO Business Management, a firm that touts its relationship on its website with entertainers such as Katy Perry, 50 Cent and Tom Petty. Schwartz, who no longer works there, was said to represent Beyonce and Mariah Carey, who both appeared at a fundraiser last year in support of a heart disease charity he founded.(SD-Agencies)