A key figure in the University of Hawaii’s “Wonder Blunder” scam that cost UH $200,000 for a bogus Stevie Wonder concert has been charged in Pennsylvania in an unrelated case for allegedly conspiring to defraud victims who thought they were investing in concert promotions, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.

Marc Hubbard, 46, of Cornelius, N.C., and Franklin Green, 45, of Washington, D.C. were each charged with one count of conspiracy and seven counts of wire fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The scheme involved about $2.1 million, according to Memeger.

In 2012, Hubbard was indicted in Honolulu for wire fraud in the “Wonder Blunder” fiasco that proved an embarrassment for UH and cast a shadow over the administration of then-UH President M.R.C. Greenwood.

Hubbard unsuccessfully tried to have his case moved to North Carolina. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in Honolulu.

In the Pennsylvania case, Memeger said Hubbard was president of Sports Dimensions, Inc., which purported to specialize in concert promotions and nightclub management and was also president of Castle Entertainment which purported to specialize in nightclub management. Green, a lawyer in Washington, D.C., was formerly a lawyer in Philadelphia.

According to the indictment, Hubbard portrayed himself and SDI as highly successful concert promoters and falsely represented approximately $14.27 million in ticket sales from July 2006 to January 10, 2008. He allegedly promised investors an approximate return of 25 percent to 30 percent on their short-term investments with SDI. 

Green was Hubbard’s attorney and allegedly negotiated or assisted in the negotiation of the contracts with Hubbard’s investors. Hubbard allegedly told investors that their funds were protected by a $10 million surety bogus bond that was offered as collateral.

Instead of using the investors’ funds for concert promotions, Hubbard allegedly used the money to pay earlier investors and to pay his personal and business expenses, according to the indictment. 

Investors had put up about $2.1 million and got a return on their investments valued at $326,500. 

Hubbard allegedly took at least $1.8 million while Green took about $333,000.

If convicted, Hubbard and Green each maximum sentences of 20 years in prison, fines up to $250,000 and forfeiture of $2.1 million