It's more that wire fraud can cover pretty much anything, making it a lot easier for the feds to get a conviction. Plus, the charges weren't related to the festival or its investors; it was for a whole different scammy "venture."

I'm not even sure they could be criminally charged for a sham festival since the festival did actually happen. I'd imagine that the whole thing turning out to be a complete wreck would probably be something that could be handled in a civil case.