Ex-Ataris Bassist Gets Jail Time For Real Estate Scam

Former bass player for The Ataris, Michael Davenport has been sentenced to seven years in jail after being found guilty of a real estate scam in the US.

A media release from the Southern District of Illinois states the muso will serve time in federal prison for “defrauding thousands of would-be renters and home-buyers” from 2009 to 2016.

Last year, it was reported that as many as 100,000 had been scammed out of $27 million dollars, with Davenport charged with Conspiracy and Fraud after 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.

Davenport was a member of The Ataris from 1998 to 2005 and did various shows across 2013 – 2014, before coming to Australia with the band in 2016. He was also a member of Versus The World.