Alanis Morissette's former business manager admits stealing $4.8m from her after claiming he invested it in illegal marijuana grows

  • Jagged Little Pill superstar's manager used 100s of transfers to steal money
  • Jonathan Schwartz will serve up to eight years in jail and pay back $8.2m
  • Falsely claimed that the money had been used to open illegal marijuana farms 

By Ross Mcdonagh For Dailymail.com

Published: 21:18 EST, 18 January 2017 | Updated: 08:46 EST, 19 January 2017

It's like stealing $6.5million... but then having to pay back $8.2million.

Alanis Morissette's former business manager has admitted to stealing $4.8million from her over the course of four years.

Jonathan Schwartz plead guilty to committing wire fraud and filing false tax returns between 2010 to 2014, during which he fleeced the singer, as well as another $1.7million from other unnamed athletes and celebrities.

One hand in her pocket: Alanis Morissette's former business manager admitted stealing $4.8m from her after claiming he invested it in illegal marijuana grows

According to the LA Times, the 48-year-old stole the money through more than 100 bank transfers and withdrawals, sometimes falsifying her signature to withdraw cash.

Schwartz - who also  previously managed Beyonce and Mariah Carey - worked for Sherman Oaks-based GSO Business Management at the time.

'When confronted about the missing funds, defendant falsely stated that the money was an ‘investment’ in illegal marijuana ‘grow’ businesses and that he and other GSO employees, none of whom defendant could identify, had delivered the cash to people, also unidentified, associated with the marijuana businesses,' the plea agreement said. 

As part of a plea deal, he agreed to serve between four and six years in prison as well as paying $8.2 million in restitution; however his sentence will ultimately be decided by a federal judge on February 1.

Schwartz (pictured at Variety's Business Managers Elite Breakfast in November) claims the singer had asked him to withdraw the money and invest it into a marijuana business, which she denied

'Mr. Schwartz was hired to protect his clients’ money by managing it professionally, but instead misappropriated millions to enrich himself,' Deirdre Fike, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said in a statement. 

TMZ reported last year that 42-year-old Morissette had sued Schwarz, denying at the time she had asked him to invest her money in a marijuana business.

They reportedly settled in June 2016. 

Following their split, the singer hired a new financial manager who investigated her concerns and it is claimed found $4.7 million was missing from her accounts.

According to a report by ET Canada, the findings were presented to GSO and Schwartz who stated the singer had asked him to withdraw the money and invest it into a marijuana business, a claim which she denies.

Big names: GSO Business Management has also looked after the finances of Mariah Carey and Beyoncé

Alanis threatened to sue GSO but the company is reportedly distancing themselves from the financial manager and even branded him a 'disgrace.'

According to TMZ, the suit claims Schwartz stole the money to support an opulent lifestyle, including a $50,000 vacation to Bora Bora and paying off a $75,000 gambling debt at a casino in the Bahamas. 

On its 'annual list of the industry's most trusted moneymen' the Hollywood Reporter listed Schwartz, 46, as one of 'Hollywood's 25 most powerful business managers' in 2014 and said he was GSO's youngest partner and someone who will 'go to extremes' to assist famous clients.

Giving one such example, they wrote: 'He once invited NFL cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who had blown through $5 million in his first two seasons, to stay at his home for a couple of weeks for an experiential education in living responsibly.'

In the piece, the manager also contributed examples of occasions where he has been asked to sign off on expenditure for celebrities who lead a lavish lifestyle.

He said: 'Biggest check cut: Probably a private plane. For some of these high-profile clients, you're not going to see them walking around LAX.' 

Growing family: Ironic hitmaker Alanis and husband Mario 'Souleye' Treadway gave birth to a daughter last year; The couple already have five-year-old son Ever together (pictured 2014)

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