Ex-Ataris Bassist Facing Jail Time For Alleged Telemarketing Scam

Pop punk muso and former bass player for The Ataris, Michael Davenport is facing 30 years in prison for an alleged telemarketing scam.

As reported by Alternative Press, the US-based operation focused on real estate and scammed approximately 100,000 people out of $27 million from 2009 and 2016.

Davenport was arrested alongside Cynthia Rawlinson and charged with Conspiracy and Fraud - the pair allegedly operating a Santa Barbara-based telemarketing business that placed vague ads on Craigslist about pre-foreclosure houses.

When someone requested more information about a listing, they would need to pay a fee of $199, only to later find out the house was either not actually for sale or didn’t exist. The victims were then unable to obtain a refund.

Currently a member of Versus The World, Davenport was a member of The Ataris from 1998 to 2005 and did various shows across 2013 – 2014.