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Billy McFarland, the man behind Fyre Media and promoter of Fyre Festival, has plead not guilty to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a bank at a hearing in New York City on October 2, Variety reports. McFarland was arrested back in June, and a trial is expected to begin in early 2018 if he doesn't strike a plea bargain with prosecutors in the meantime.The charges McFarland plead not guilty to are twofold. There are two counts of wire fraud—including one count of knowingly misleading Fyre Festival investors through falsified emails and another of scheming to defraud investors. He also plead not guilty to two counts of making false statements to a bank. Variety also report that Ja Rule, who was involved in the organisation of the festival, is not facing criminal charges but is a named defendant in a number of civil suits.Follow Noisey on Twitter.