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Arrest Warrant Issued for Missing Rave Promoter After $600,000 Stolen From Ottawa's Escapade Music Festival

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Ottawa police issued an arrest warrant Friday, July 6 for an Ottawa-based concert promoter after over $600,000 in proceeds disappeared from the Escapade Music Festival held in Ottawa June 30 - July 1.

According to the Ottawa Citizen, Nickolas Guidon-Vachon is wanted on charges of theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property over $5,000. The man was reportedly last seen leaving Ottawa Stadium early Monday morning (July 2) lugging a large box with him as he got into a rented vehicle. Police located the vehicle at Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport parking lot but Guidon-Vachon wasn't there.

There's been no sighting or contact with him since.

The Escapade Music Festival -- which was put on by DNA Presents which Guidon-Vachon and four others were partners in -- was in year three of existence and attracted roughly 15,000 over the two-day festival.

"I trusted him as a friend, as well as a business partner," DNA Presents' Michael O'Farrell told the Citizen. "You never, never in your mind think that your own partner, let alone your good friend, can [allegedly] do something like this to you without any explanation."

O'Farrell said the accused's cell phone had been turned off since proceeds from ticket and alcohol sales were missing. O'Farrell, his accountant and a stadium representative arrived at Ottawa Stadium Monday morning to collect the money that was in a safe but the cash wasn't there.

In a July 4 interview with the same publication, O'Farrell said he then went to Guidon-Vachon's hotel room but it was empty. A trip to his apartment also proved futile.

Tickets for the festival -- which featured a lineup of Avicii, Alesso and Eric Prydz among others -- went for $99 for a single day up to $219 for a special VIP festival pass. O'Farrell hopes the money is found but is meeting with DNA Presents' accountant and lawyer to see where the company stands from a financial standpoint. The accused, who according to the Ottawa Sun is thought to be in Montreal, is also a partner with O'Farrell in the Ottawa nightclub Bijou.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ottawa police at 613-236-1222 ext. 5166 or Crime Stoppers.

DNA Presents made no mention of the incident on its Twitter, Facebook or official site but continued operations with shows staged as part of the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest in Ottawa.



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