AceShowbiz - Ne-Yo's former business manager is facing multiple counts of fraud after allegedly conning the R&B star and fellow singer Brian McKnight into investing in a new sports drink company. Authorities in Ohio have slapped Kevin Foster with 16 criminal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, bankruptcy fraud, and tax evasion.

Prosecutors, who added six of the counts on Tuesday, May 8, claim the New Jersey native convinced Ne-Yo to pour $2 million into launching a new drink called OXYwater, without revealing that he was personally involved in the brand. Foster, 42, also stands accused of earning McKnight's trust and encouraging him to invest in the firm too, simply to keep the company solvent.

Ne-Yo had previously filed a civil suit against Foster in 2014, claiming he withdrew $4.5 million from the "Closer" hitmaker's account without authorisation between 2011 and 2013.He only discovered the discrepancies after hiring new advisers to oversee his finances, while he was also hit with legal action from Citibank officials, who claimed he had failed to make payments on a loan the singer insisted he never signed for.

However, Ne-Yo's case was dismissed by a judge in 2016, due to a lack of supporting evidence.