Fyre Fest merch to be auctioned off to pay back victims of scam

The rapper Ja Rule told TMZ on Thursday that he was developing plans for an "iconic" music festival similar to the failed Fyre Fest, which was the subject of Netflix and Hulu documentaries this year. The rapper Ja Rule told TMZ on Thursday that he was developing plans for an "iconic" music festival similar to the failed Fyre Fest, which was the subject of Netflix and Hulu documentaries this year. Photo: BI Photo: BI Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Fyre Fest merch to be auctioned off to pay back victims of scam 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

Nearly two years after social media watched from afar as what was billed as a "once-in-a-lifetime musical experience" devolved into a maelstrom of mass confusion and very sad-looking sandwiches, the United States Marshals Service's Manhattan office is putting what remains of the official merchandise up for auction.

"We have an assortment of the 'real thing' Fyre Festival-branded tee-shirts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, hats, wristbands and medallions," a spokesman for the United States Marshals Service's Manhattan office told Vulture. "We know that there is tremendous interest in these items in the NY metro area in particular."

RELATED: These photos reveal why the 27-year-old organizer of the disastrous Fyre Festival has been sentenced to 6 years in prison

Fyre Festival organizer Billy McFarland, who was sentenced to six years in prison for running the scam, owes investors around $26 million. However, the U.S. government hasn't been able to find much as far as his assets go to help mitigate his debt. What they did find, according to a court filing, was some money in a couple of bank accounts and "two large boxes containing Fyre-branded T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts and other clothing items that were intended for sale at the Fyre Festival."

RELATED: Ja Rule wants to put on another event like Fyre Fest: 'In the midst of chaos, there's opportunity'

It's not yet clear when or where in the digital ecosphere the auction will take place, nor is it known what merchandise will hit the bidding block, but the USMS says it will be up to their undisclosed "contracted partners to handle the marketing and sale (for the) online auction."

When the sale wraps, the government will divvy up and distribute money to those investors and the ticket vendor stiffed by the fest (based on a percentage of their respective financial losses).

The Fyre Festival, which was scheduled to take place in April and May 2017, was billed as a luxury festival on a Caribbean island to be attended by celebrities, #influencers, models and wealthy scenesters. The event turned into a catastrophe, however, when weather and poor planning derailed the event. Two documentaries, on Netflix and Hulu, were subsequently made to detail what happened after thousands were stranded at the festival site.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.

