A Georgia man has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing unreleased Beyoncé music from a rented car in Atlanta. Kelvin Evans, 41, pleaded guilty to charges including entering an automobile and criminal trespass, and will also serve three years of probation. The sentence comes after Evans broke into a Jeep Wagoneer and made off with hard drives containing unreleased music by the singer.
The theft occurred on July 8, 2025, just before Beyoncé launched the Atlanta leg of her Cowboy Carter tour. The car’s occupants, a choreographer and dancer for Beyoncé, returned to find the vehicle’s rear window smashed and their luggage gone. Investigators have not recovered the stolen items, including two MacBook laptops, luxury clothing, and the hard drives containing Beyoncé’s unreleased music.
Beyoncé Music Theft
Evans struck a plea deal ahead of his trial, with his lawyer telling the judge that his client was “hoping for a future where he can make money legitimately and be part of society like the rest of us”. Prosecutors showed surveillance footage of Evans’ red Hyundai pulling up next to the rental car in a parking garage, and another video showing the same car arriving at an apartment block with Evans handling suitcases believed to belong to the victims.
The stolen laptops had tracking technology that placed the items at the address seen in the second video. As part of his sentence, Evans has been ordered to stay away from the victims as well as the car park where the theft took place. He has been in jail since his arrest in August last year.
Aftermath and Implications
The break-in and theft have raised concerns about the security of celebrity property and the protection of unreleased music. The incident has also highlighted the importance of tracking technology in recovering stolen items. Beyoncé’s team has not commented on the theft or the sentence, but the incident is likely to have significant implications for the music industry.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting intellectual property and the consequences of theft. As the music industry continues to evolve, the security of unreleased music and celebrity property will remain a top priority. The sentence handed down to Evans will likely have broader implications for those who engage in similar crimes, and will serve as a warning to would-be thieves.
