Posted on 02/06/2006 12:39:52 PM PST by jimbo123
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood's most famous private investigator, Anthony Pellicano, was charged with wiretapping journalists, entertainers and alleged rape victims for his clients in an indictment unsealed on Monday.
Among those who were allegedly wiretapped or subjected to illegal computer searches were comedian "Rocky" actor Sylvester Stallone, Garry Shandling, former New York Times film industry correspondent Bernard Weinraub, former Los Angeles Times reporter Anita Busch, five women who accused software millionaire John Gordon Jones of rape, Saturday Night Live comedian Kevin Nealon and actor Keith Carradine.
Pellicano, whose clients have included top Hollywood entertainment lawyers and executives as well as celebrities such as Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Michael Jackson, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Monday.
The indictment also named Los Angeles Police Sgt. Mark Arneson; former Pacific Bell employee Rayford Turner; Pellicano client Robert Pfeifer; software designer Kevin Kachikian; and Las Vegas businessmen brothers Abner and Daniel Nicherie.
Pellicano and the others were charged with wiretapping and racketeering. They were accused of obtaining confidential information, through telephone eavesdropping and law enforcement data bases, on people Pellicano was hired to investigate by his celebrity-studded roster of clients.
Pellicano "was responsible for securing clients who were willing and able to pay large sums for the purpose of obtaining personal information of a confidential, embarrassing or personal nature regarding other individuals, including opponents or witnesses in criminal or civil litigation," the indictment said.
The indictment also accused Pellicano of paying thousands of dollars in bribes to Arneson and other police officers and public officials, as well as telephone company employees to obtain information related to his cases.
Pellicano was transferred on Friday from a federal prison near Bakersfield, California, where he had completed a 2-1/2 year sentence for weapons possession, to face the new charges in a U.S. District Court arraignment later on Monday.
Anyone else notice a slight $cientology twist to this? I know people who have had $cientology investigators break into their homes and worse.
Oh, does that mean Juanita Broderick's phone was tapped?
"...comedian "Rocky" actor Sylvester Stallone..."
_________________________
No wonder his movies suck--they were supposed to be funny. Guys a stitch.
hey, they all fail to mention the Shillery connection.
"Anyone notice a slight scientology twist to this?"Now that you mention it....They're bad news.
I will never forget my one brush with Scientology in the late 70's. A friend and I stopped in NYC on our way back to Baltimore for a few days of hedonistic activities, ok, drinking.
One afternoon, we're walking around and this cute girl approaches us, says hey, c'mon, take this personality test. We had nothing better to do, so we did.
Long story short, I gave them no personal information other than my first name and that I was from Baltimore. Within 2 weeks, I was getting mail from the scientologists.
A little spooky, they are.
Yeah...didn't she play "Paulie" in the Rocky movies?
PELICAN FILES Report: Feds Keep DA In Dark About Celebrity Investigator's Probe
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/1038961/posts
The wiretapping probe involving county prosecutors apparently is related to the prosecution of John Gordon Jones, a wealthy businessman who was acquitted two years ago of charges that he drugged and raped women he met at nightclubs, the Times reported. Pellicano was hired by Jones' defense team.
It must be a conscious effort on their part.
Ya think?
It looks from the indictment that Pellicano's wiretapping program began in late 1996 or early 1997 and ran until his arrest in late 2002. Amost 6 years of tapes were confiscated as evidence by the FBI.
accused 5 times of rape. Sounds like someone should at the very least be investigated.
He was acquitted after the victims, their lawyers and the prosecutors were wiretapped.
Apparantly wiretapping victims of rape is one of his specialties, no wonder Hillary hired him.
Why do they keep hammering on this guy? I mean, it could be just for fun, but I doubt it.
(steely)
Pellicano is going to be McDougaled or Fostered if he gives up Hillary...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20060206-1114-ca-privateeyeinvestigated.html
Pellicano looked thin and frail on Monday as he appeared in court with chains around his waist and wrists.
Some more names
Someone should offer Pellicano a big movie deal so he'll start talking.
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