Nikolas arrived at my home in connection with our #BoatcrewBeach Clean-Up and Concert. I extended him the courtesy of temporarily staying at my home rather than requiring him to stay in a hotel with his cats.
There was no lease or rental agreement, he paid no rent, he received no mail at my address, and he was not provided keys or access codes to independently enter my home.
September 20, 2026 - Tour Plans Changed
Following a dispute between Nikolas and Rebekah Ruyle, Nikolas asked if Captain Matt and The Boatcrew to replace previously planned performances with shows beginning September 24.
The dates presented to us included Crazy Conchaz in Austin, Upscale Saloon in Lockhart, Stillwater Lounge in Fort Worth, and Olmos Icehouse in Seguin.
Nikolas represented to us that JUS would cover an $800 performance guarantee as well as travel, lodging, and food associated with these performances.
September 24, 2026 - Austin, TX
We traveled to Austin for the first performance.
At the hotel, Nikolas was unable to pay for the rooms. He told us that his credit card had accidentally been charged multiple times and that his account had been frozen.
We left him at the hotel to address the situation while we went to the venue to prepare for the performance. He later arrived at the venue and apologized for the problems. He instructed me to invoice JUS $1,000.
Hotel accommodations were ultimately available when we returned that evening.
September 25, 2026 - Lockhart, TX
Before leaving for our performance at Upscale Saloon, another issue arose concerning payment for the hotel.
Because I did not want the band stranded without accommodations, I personally paid for the room. Nikolas instructed me to invoice JUS for the expense.
A dispute also developed between Nikolas and the venue owner concerning their agreement. I became involved in calming the situation so the performance could proceed.
We ultimately performed the show.
September 26, 2026 - Fort Worth, TX
We traveled to Fort Worth for our performance at Stillwater Lounge.
When we arrived at the hotel, Nikolas was again unable to complete payment for the rooms, so I personally paid for both rooms.
We performed the scheduled show, after which I invoiced JUS for the agreed performance compensation, travel expenses, and hotel reimbursement.
September 27, 2026 - Seguin, TX
We traveled to the San Antonio area for our performance at Olmos Icehouse.
A disagreement existed concerning the compensation arrangement for the show. I personally worked with the venue owner and negotiated a reduced guaranteed performance amount plus tips so that the performance could move forward.
I also paid for our hotel accommodations.
We performed the show and received a positive response from the audience.
September 28, 2026 - Return To Houston
While preparing to return to Houston, Nikolas told us that he no longer had a residence available to him in Austin.
Before allowing him to travel back to Houston with us, I told him that the outstanding invoices owed to us needed to be paid.
Nikolas then submitted payment for the outstanding invoices, and I received confirmation that the payments had been made. Based on those payments, I permitted him to return to Houston with us.
Our next planned performance was September 29 in Kemah, followed by Memphis on October 2. Because the group was expected to depart from Houston for Memphis, I permitted Nikolas to temporarily return with us.
The anticipated flights to Memphis were never secured, so I began planning to use our tour van instead.
September 29, 2026 - Kemah, TX
We performed at Kemah Shot Bar under a guarantee paid directly to us by the venue.
Nikolas told me that JUS would not take its 10% commission on this performance because of the expenses I had personally covered during the preceding tour dates.
I subsequently invoiced JUS for hotel reimbursement and travel expenses associated with our return to Houston.
October 1, 2026 - Concerns About JUS Payroll Surface
I requested a meeting with the individuals who had been involved in booking our shows so we could discuss tour logistics and improve the booking process.
During that meeting, it became apparent that members of the JUS team were extremely concerned about an internal situation.
Jeremy McNeill initially told me that he did not want to discuss the matter because he did not want to damage the reputation of our partnership with JUS.
After the meeting, I asked Nikolas what was happening. He characterized it as an internal matter.
I subsequently contacted Jeremy directly to make sure he was okay. During that conversation, Jeremy told me that members of the JUS staff had not been paid for multiple pay periods and described the financial consequences he was personally experiencing.
I confronted Nikolas about what I had learned. Nikolas then acknowledged that JUS was experiencing payroll problems and discussed difficulties he said he had encountered attempting to pay personnel.
Because I had developed relationships with the people who had been working on our tour, I attempted to find a way to help resolve the immediate payroll situation.
I proposed an online performance for which I would invoice JUS $9,200. My intention was to use those funds to provide bonuses to the people who had been working on our behalf.
The performance took place and JUS submitted payment of the invoice.
October 2, 2026 - Payments Reversed and Memphis Canceled
Our scheduled departure time for Memphis was 4:00 AM.
When I woke that morning, I discovered that there was a hold associated with the $9,200 transaction and that other payments previously made to us had been disputed and/or charged back.
At that point, approximately $3,065 in invoices remained unpaid, in addition to processing fees resulting from the reversed transactions.
Scott Orr and I confronted Nikolas about the situation. I informed him that we would not be traveling to Memphis.
Nikolas offered explanations concerning the banking information associated with the transactions.
The conversation was recorded.
During that conversation, I gave Nikolas 24 hours to address the situation. I also informed him that I intended to speak directly with the JUS personnel who had reported that they had not been paid.
I voided the $9,200 invoice and, at approximately 6:08 AM, sent Nikolas a written demand requesting an explanation of JUS's financial situation.
I scheduled a meeting for 1:00 PM with individuals who had been working with JUS and who reported outstanding compensation.
At approximately 1:02 PM, Nikolas responded to my earlier email. His response addressed JUS's financial condition, outstanding compensation, and the possibility of transitioning individuals who had been working through JUS into direct relationships outside of JUS.
After reviewing his response and speaking directly with the affected individuals, I concluded that Captain Matt Music could no longer continue its professional relationship with JUS Official Services.
I prepared formal written notice terminating the representation agreement in accordance with its termination provisions and issued a cease-and-desist notice.
I also prepared a proposed settlement agreement providing a method for JUS to resolve the outstanding invoices, chargebacks, and associated fees.
As part of the proposed resolution, I was willing to extend Nikolas the courtesy of temporarily remaining as a guest in my home studio while he attempted to address the outstanding compensation issues involving JUS personnel.
He was given 24 hours to accept the proposed settlement.
October 3, 2026 - Permission to Remain at My Property Withdrawn
The 24-hour period expired without Nikolas signing the proposed settlement agreement.
At approximately 7:06 AM, I met with him in my studio. Because that portion of my property does not have security cameras, I recorded the conversation on my phone.
Nikolas continued discussing and attempting to negotiate the proposed agreement. I ultimately gave him a final opportunity to sign it and informed him that if he declined, his permission to remain at my property would end and I would contact the authorities and my attorney.
He did not sign.
I then withdrew my permission for him to remain as a guest and instructed him to leave.
When the departure was not occurring promptly, I contacted the Harris County Constable's Office so that law enforcement could be present and the situation could be handled without physical confrontation.
Nikolas gathered his belongings and left the property while constables were present.
The interaction was recorded.
After his permission to remain on the property had been withdrawn, Nikolas requested a bottle of water. I did not provide one. He was permitted to retrieve his belongings, and I provided a plastic bag for food he had left inside.
The constables remained present while he departed.
October 3, 2026 - Payment Demand and Attorney Contact
At approximately 11:25 AM, I sent another written demand requesting immediate payment of the outstanding invoices and chargeback-related fees.
The correspondence also provided information for contacting my attorney and reiterated my instruction that further substantive communications regarding the dispute be handled through counsel.
Following these events, Nikolas sent multiple lengthy communications containing allegations against me, Captain Matt Music, and individuals formerly associated with JUS.
He also communicated directly with current and former JUS personnel concerning confidentiality, preservation of records, potential civil claims, substantial potential damages, and possible referrals to law enforcement.
Some recipients have told me that they experienced these communications as intimidating. Nikolas has characterized his communications as efforts to preserve JUS's legal and contractual rights.
Rather than characterize his motives for the public, I am preserving the communications so that the actual documents can speak for themselves.
October 4, 2026 - #ItsJUStaNIK is Launched
Nikolas subsequently published a lengthy public video presenting his account of these events and making numerous statements concerning me, Captain Matt Music, MSDG, LLC, and the dispute.
I dispute a number of factual assertions contained in that video.
Rather than responding with personal attacks, I created this page to establish a public chronology and provide source documents wherever appropriate so readers can evaluate the available evidence themselves.
Nikolas' actions has harmed a lot of people and he will continue to do so unless the truth is publically That is the purpose of website. What Nikolas has done may not be fatal to us, but we want to prevent him from harming others. After all: #ItsJUStaNIK
October 5, 2026 - The First #ItsJUStaNIK Survivor Stories Zoom Call Was Hosted By Captain Matt
On October 5, 2026, Captain Matt brought together individuals who say they were affected by their relationships with Nikolas Hake d/b/a JUS Official Services for the first #ItsJUStaNIK Survivor Stories Zoom call. Participants were given the opportunity to share their firsthand experiences, discuss available documentation, and hear from others who discovered they were not alone. The purpose is simple: transparency, accountability, and giving people a place to tell their own stories in their own words.
It wasn't a lethal blow. We survived, and #ItsJUStaNIK.
Have You Had an Experience With JUS Official Services?
Since these events became public, additional individuals have contacted me about their own experiences with Nikolas M. Hake d/b/a JUS Official Services.
If you believe you have been financially or professionally affected by your dealings with Nikolas or JUS Official Services, or if you have firsthand information that you believe is relevant, you are invited to contact us.
You do not need to make your experience public.
You will not be asked to exaggerate, coordinate your account with anyone else's, or make an allegation you cannot personally support.
We ask only that you tell your own story, preserve your original documentation, and distinguish what you personally experienced from what you may have heard from someone else.
Those who wish to participate may also be invited to a private Zoom conversation with other individuals who have come forward.
