Nets Chairman Sends Brooklyn Born Singer on Russian Tour

Christophe Charlier is the Chairman of the Nets Board of Directors and Mikhail Prokhorov's third in command back in Moscow.  The 38-year-old Frenchman spends a lot of his time on the Nets' business side.  In recent weeks, he has a new venture: trying to help a prep school classmate rebuild his life...in Russia.

Charlier is bankrolling Brooklyn-born singer John Forte', who sent from Grammy-nominated producer and Carly Simon backup to convicted drug dealer.  After President Bush commuted his sentence in 2008, after eight years in prison, he's spent his time making music and will now take his talents on a tour of Russia, from Moscow to Siberia and back, financed by Charlier. An album and documentary will be produced from the tour.

• John Forte: From Brooklyn to Russia With Love - Zack O'Malley Greenberg - Forbes