Lou Pearlman, the hitmaker behind the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, has been cleared of allegations that he broke child labor laws.
The Florida Department of Labor said there was no evidence that Pearlman and his Orlando-based company, Trans Continental Entertainment, violated such rules as making minors work past 11:30 p.m, as alleged by the mother of two of his former entertainers.
Kenneth W. Williams, an administrator in the Labor Department’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement, wrote to Pearlman on Thursday and said the allegations are unproven.
“Therefore, we are terminating our investigation and closing our files on this case,” Williams wrote.
“I’m happy to say that we are vindicated, as expected, from all allegations,” Pearlman said.
Scott Bennett, vice president of Trans Continental, said: “We are obviously pleased with the outcome of the investigation, which turned out as we expected it would.”
The investigation began last fall when Merrily Goodell, the mother of two members of Take 5 – one of Pearlman’s former groups that failed to make it big – filed a complaint against Pearlman.
The complaint alleged Pearlman violated rules prohibiting minors from working more than six consecutive days, working no earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 11:30 p.m., and requiring that parents be notified of their children’s activities.
She also accused Pearlman of violating the terms for receiving a state permit allowing minors to work in the entertainment industry.
