The founder of Dueling Pianos Roadshow, who used his entertainment business to defraud and steal from clients and employees, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
James Casimir “Caz” Bzdek, 43, pleaded guilty in May to violating the Colorado Crime Control Act, a felony, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
In exchange for the plea, charges of money laundering, identity theft and forgery were dropped.
Bzdek used the roadshow to illegally obtain credit card numbers and bank account information from clients and employees. prosecutors said. He then used the information to steal money, according to a Friday media release from the DA’s office. Bzdek billed clients multiple times and kept the extra amounts. He also opened credit card processing accounts in victims’ names to commit credit card fraud.
Already on probation for an earlier theft case, Bzdek was prohibited from opening bank accounts and entering into financial contracts. Losses to victims, according to the release, totaled more than $200,000.
