Former Pearl Jam accountant sentenced for embezzling over $300k from band

The former chief financial officer for Pearl Jam’s management company has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for embezzling more than $300,000 over three years.

Superior Court Judge Roger Rogoff gave defendant Rickey C. Goodrich two weeks to straighten out his financial affairs before formalizing the sentence, The Seattle Times reported.

Goodrich pleaded guilty in December to six counts of first-degree theft. He admitted using company accounts to pay for expensive family vacations, spa treatments, high-end wines and life insurance along with personal debts.

Goodrich began working for Pearl Jam Touring Co. in 2005. Court documents say he was named chief financial officer for the management company owned by the band’s manager, Kelly Curtis.

In the next few years he used company funds to repeatedly pay for charges on his wife’s American Express card. Court documents say he also used a company credit card to pay for airline tickets, restaurants and hotels, as well purchases on Amazon.com and iTunes.

The company removed him from his position as tour accountant in 2009 for a series of financial discrepancies. More problems arose in 2010 when Goodrich filled in for the band’s regular tour accountant.

Court documents says a missing $15,000 payment in “road cash” raised concerns after the band’s lead guitarist said he never received the money. Goodrich claimed the money had actually been used to pay for crew bonuses — which crew members also disputed receiving.

Goodrich was also caught forging Curtis’ signature to make so-called loans to himself. He ultimately repaid $45,000 before he was fired in September 2010.

He was charged with the thefts in 2012 after the band conducted its own financial audit and notified police.

Prosecutors say Goodrich paid back $125,000 when he pleaded guilty. He’ll return to court in two weeks for his formal sentencing.