A Georgia man who admitted to stealing hard drives containing unreleased music from Beyoncé’s team has been sentenced to two years in prison, authorities said Tuesday.
Kelvin Evans pleaded guilty in Fulton County Superior Court to charges including entering an automobile and criminal trespass. The charges stem from a 2025 break-in involving a rental vehicle used by members of the singer’s crew.
A judge handed Evans a five-year sentence, with two years to be served in custody and the remaining time on probation. As part of the agreement, Evans must avoid contact with the victims and stay away from the location of the theft.
Theft Targeted Touring Team
The incident occurred in July 2025 in Atlanta, shortly before Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour stop in the city. According to investigators, Evans broke into a Jeep Wagoneer parked in a garage and removed two suitcases.
The suitcases contained laptops, AirPods, designer clothing and hard drives. Authorities said the drives held “watermarked music, some unreleased music, footage plans for the show and past and future set lists.”
The stolen items belonged to choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue, who reported the break-in after discovering a shattered window.
Police used tracking data from electronic devices to help identify a suspect. Investigators followed signals from a laptop and headphones, which led them to locations tied to Evans.
Surveillance footage presented in court showed a vehicle pulling up beside the rental car before the theft. Additional footage allegedly showed Evans later removing the suitcases at an apartment complex.
Guilty Plea Avoids Trial
Evans initially pleaded not guilty and declined a plea deal earlier in the case. He later changed his plea just as jury selection began, avoiding a full trial.
During the hearing, his attorney said, “He is looking forward to putting this relatively large part of his life behind him and hoping for a future where he can make money legitimately and be part of society like the rest of us.”
Prosecutors said Evans acted alone and did not necessarily target Beyoncé directly. However, the materials taken were considered highly sensitive due to the artist’s strict control over unreleased work.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the stolen files and equipment were ever recovered.
The theft drew widespread attention because of Beyoncé’s reputation for tightly guarded releases. The singer continued her tour following the incident, which went on to achieve major commercial success.
Evans is expected to serve his prison term before beginning probation under court supervision.