Plastic surgeon says producer duped him into investing in Broadway shows
A Denver Plastic Surgeon Accuses Tony Award-Winning Broadway Producer of Fraud
A Denver plastic surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Wheeler, has filed a lawsuit alleging that a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, JJ Powell, deceived him into investing $117,000 in various musicals. Wheeler claims that Powell fraudulently mixed the funds, refused to provide investment documentation, and threatened Wheeler and his attorney when they demanded refunds.
Wheeler, who operates Anagenesis in Greenwood Village, invested in productions such as “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” “Proud — A Conversion Therapy Musical,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” and “Sunset Boulevard.” Despite the success of some of these productions, Wheeler did not receive any financial updates or distributions from Powell.
When Wheeler requested his money back, Powell allegedly retaliated by withholding legal disbursements and making threats to harm Wheeler’s medical license and the attorney’s law license. The lawsuit includes email exchanges where Powell allegedly attempted to intimidate Wheeler and his attorney.
In addition to financial disputes, Wheeler also accuses Powell of damaging his reputation by spreading false information to Broadway producers and potentially hindering his ability to invest in future projects. As a result, Wheeler is seeking damages for defamation, theft, breach of contract, and fraud.
Despite requests for comment, Powell did not respond to inquiries from BusinessDen regarding the lawsuit.
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