Phoney Toni acquitted in Braxton impersonation case
Last Updated: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 | 12:51 PM ET
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Trina Johnson-Finn, a Las Vegas entertainer known for her celebrity imitations, appears in the photo on the left. The real Toni Braxton appears on the right. (Raymond Finn/Dan Steinberg/Associated Press) A Toni Braxton tribute artist from Las Vegas has been acquitted by a judge in Suriname of defrauding customers by pretending she is the real thing.
Trina Johnson-Finn had spent three months in a jail in the South American country after a concert in which she was pelted with beer cans and booed offstage.
Concert-goers had spent up to $53 US for a ticket, thinking they were going to see the real Toni Braxton, a Grammy-winner known for the hit Un-break My Heart.
Judge Robby Rodrigues concluded there was no proof Johnson-Finn was behind the deception.
The promoter who hired her to come to Suriname, with what she says was an invitation to play a private party, was arrested one month ago. Angel Ventura and his girlfriend, Signet Sampson, are expected to stand trial in July.
Johnson-Finn's defence attorney said people were easily fooled because the concept of tribute artists is unknown in Suriname.
Husband Raymond Finn expressed relief at the judge's verdict and apologized to those who bought tickets.
Johnson-Finn said outside the courtroom that she was now just eager to go home.
With files from the Associated PressShare Tools
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