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<Bz23>Boy band mogul accused

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Lou Pearlman, who faces one felony count of bank fraud in Florida, appeared in federal court Friday and was held over for another hearing next week.Pearlman, who created the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, refused to answer questions about his financial assets, which would determine whether he should be granted a public defender. US District Chief Judge Frances Tydincgo-Gatewood then halted the proceedings until Monday.

The boy-band mogul was remanded to the custody of US marshals and sent to the federal detention area of the Guam prison.

Pearlman, who was also involved in other business ventures, had been sought for months. He was expelled by Indonesia as an “undesirable visitor” and turned over to the FBI, which brought him to the territory of Guam to face the US justice system.

He was apprehended at a hotel on the resort island of Bali, the FBI said on Thursday.

“We expect that he will be returned to Florida,” said Steve Cole, a spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office in Tampa.

Pearlman also faces lawsuits and two involuntary bankruptcy proceedings.