Kelvin Evans, 41, was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of probation after pleading guilty to stealing unreleased Beyoncé music from a rental car in Atlanta on 8 July 2025, according to the Los Angeles Times and BBC. Evans broke into a Jeep Wagoneer rented by choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue, who were traveling for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour.

Stolen Items and Surveillance Evidence

The stolen items included two MacBook laptops, Apple headphones, luxury clothing and accessories, and hard drives containing unreleased Beyoncé material. Grant also told authorities he was carrying “personal sensitive information” belonging to Beyoncé. Investigators have not recovered the hard drives or other stolen items.

Surveillance footage showed a red Hyundai driven by Evans parking next to the rental car in a garage, and another video showed the same vehicle arriving at an apartment block with Evans handling suitcases believed to belong to Grant and Blue. Prosecutors said the stolen laptops had tracking technology that placed the items at the address seen in the second video.

Legal Proceedings and Plea Deal

Evans struck a plea deal in court on Tuesday ahead of his trial this week, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office confirmed to the BBC. His lawyer told the judge his client was “hoping for a future where he can make money legitimately and be part of society like the rest of us.”

Jury selection in the case began on Monday. Senior Judge Jane C. Barwick sentenced Evans, who was set to go on trial this week. As part of his sentence, Evans has been ordered to stay away from the victims as well as the car park where the theft took place. Police arrested Evans in August.

Impact on Beyoncé and the Tour

The theft occurred as Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour was coming to Atlanta for a four-night takeover of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Grant and Blue had told police that the stolen items included two MacBook laptops, Apple headphones, luxury clothing and accessories, and hard drives that investigators said contained unreleased Beyoncé material.

Evans damaged the trunk window and stole a pair of suitcases that contained two computers and five jump drives of unreleased music, as well as footage, plans for the tour production, and past and future set lists, according to a police report. The loss of unreleased material and tour plans could impact the singer’s upcoming projects and tour preparations.

Evans’ actions have drawn attention for the potential exposure of Beyoncé’s unreleased work. The stolen hard drives and computers remain unrecovered, leaving the risk of leaks or unauthorized distribution. The case highlights the vulnerability of high-profile artists to theft and the importance of securing digital assets.

The sentence handed down by the judge includes a prison term and probation, with the aim of deterring future criminal behavior. The case also highlights the role of surveillance and tracking technology in modern criminal investigations.