I was approached by LaVelle Ward (aka The LaVelle Organization) in regards to the promotion of a charity concert and runway show (Rock the Cause) to be held in Chicago. I was informed by him that he was a Harvard Graduate, an entrepreneur, a real estate mogul, and an overall man about town. He contracted myself and several others do do work to help him launch this show and create an amazing experience. He agreed to multiple contracts and alluded to several more with bands, television personalities, agents, models, venues, etc.
In short, many people put themselves on the line to make this event happen. However we all did so under the false pretenses that LaVelle Ward was whom he said he was. Countless hours and tons of work were done to pull this event off. As the date drew closer he became harder and harder to get in touch with although he was not without enthusiasm or determination to pull through.
When push came to shove however, LaVelle quickly disappeared and would no longer return phone calls or emails. Upon pushing further into this person's background it became very obvious that we were misled and that LaVelle Ward was nothing more than a con artist. LaVelle Ward did not graduate from Harvard, did not own legitimate businesses, nor have anything under his mixed martial arts belt besides flab and a penchant for stealing from people.
He didn't pay his bills. He lied about every single contract that he said he had secured and though initially enticing and friendly, it seemed in the end that he had done this just to take advantage of people. Currently people involved with just this one project are owed tens of thousands of dollars by LaVelle. He has been reported to various authorities and is undergoing review by multiple legal entities that at this time I will not refer to.
It took little work to trace him and show that he has been ripping people off and stealing from them for at least 5 years across various schemes. Although LaVelle Ward seems like one thing (friendly, enthusiastic, and trustworthy) he IS NOT. I would advise that no one, ever, under any circumstances, pursue any business with this individual. I just don't want to see anyone ripped off like me and the multitude of other people over the years.