Alanis Morissette's former business partner Jonathan Schwartz admitted to stealing $4.8 million from the singer and another $2 million from other clients in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday, BBC reports.
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Schwartz worked with Morissette from 2009 to 2016. According to The Hollywood Reporter, his duties during that time included "collecting income, managing investment accounts and paying bills on her behalf." In May of 2016, Morissette sued Schwartz for fraud, asking for more than $15 million in damages. Her complaint alleged that Schwartz and the company he worked for "concealed distributions from Morissette, convincing her that she was in tremendous financial shape when, in fact, they were draining her assets and leading her on a road that could have led to financial ruin."
When Schwartz's successor, Howard Grossman, reviewed Morissette's finances, he found evidence of more than 100 transfers from the singer's accounts to Schwartz's. According to Morissette's suit, Schwartz described these allocations as investments in "one or more illegal marijuana 'grow' businesses."
"When she asked him if she was over budget, he would insist that things were 'fine,' that she had 'nothing to worry about,' and that she and her future grandkids were 'set for life,'" the complaint continued. "His reasoning was always that she didn't need to work so hard, because she was so financially secure."
Schwartz's lawyer, Nathan Hochman, said his client was cooperating fully with the investigation. BBC reports that Schwartz, who will appear in court on criminal charges February 1st, could face four to six years in prison.
A rep for Morissette did not immediately respond to a request for comment.