Posted on 07/19/2007 7:39:39 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Ex-CEO accused of building secret lair
2 hours, 1 minute ago
The co-founder of semiconductor maker Broadcom Corp., under scrutiny in a federal stock options probe, was accused seven years ago of building an underground hideaway at his estate to indulge in drugs and sex with prostitutes, according to court documents.
In a draft complaint made against Henry T. Nicholas III, a construction crew claimed the billionaire failed to pay them millions of dollars for work performed between 1998 and 2002, and used "manipulation, lies, intimidation, and even death threats" when anyone threatened to quit.
The illegal network of tunnels and rooms underneath Nicholas' Laguna Hills estate was kept secret from his wife and city officials, the documents said.
The purpose of one secret room was to allow Nicholas to "indulge his appetite for illegal drugs and sex with prostitutes," the crew claimed.
The allegations in the draft complaint were not filed with the crew's lawsuit against Nicholas in 2002, which was later resolved in a confidential settlement. However, the complaint was attached in 2005 as a supporting document to a lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court by a man seeking a larger share of the settlement.
Some of the allegations were similar to those made by former Nicholas employee Kenji Kato, who claimed Nicholas took cocaine, ecstasy and heroin and hired prostitutes for clients. Kato, who said he served as Nicholas' bodyguard and personal assistant for seven years, is seeking $3 million plus damages for his resignation due to what he says was a hostile workplace.
Nicholas' attorney Steven A. Silverstein has characterized Kato's claims as an extortion attempt and said of the construction crew complaint, "all of the allegations are denied."
Nicholas, 47, also has been identified by an internal Broadcom audit as bearing "significant responsibility" for the way stock options were granted and dated during the high-flying days of the Irvine-based technology company.
The company said it found evidence that Nicholas, who left Broadcom in 2003, personally approved of options dates that led the company to restate earnings and record $2.22 billion in non-cash expenses. Another Nicholas attorney, John W. Spiegel, has said his client did not knowingly engage in selecting grant dates after the fact.
I’d like Fred in 8 with Romney as VP. Then Fred not run in 2012 and have Mitt in 12 and 16.
I’m leaning towards Mr. Hunter, but he doesn’t stand a chance.
I’m in CA, I hear him on the radio all the time and like him as well but he is way behind. Maybe a cabinet post as defense or homeland security.
“Secret tunnels and earthquakes probably don’t mix well. What a way to go. Slowly dying in your porn bunker with a hooker and no one knows you’re there.”
As long as you have your army of whores down there. Otherwise, it REALLY sucks. ;)
LOL!
He needed FemBots.
Interesting to hear this about a Broadcom guy. B4L8r
Who does he think he is? President Clinton?
That would do it.
I knew a building developer who added a little 'love shack' on top of a 10 story office building he put up that did not appear in the buliding floorplan.
After a couple of years, the local fire marshal who had it out for this guy anyway found out about it and all hell broke lose --- especially from the guy's wife. ;~))
So it’s illegal to tunnel under your own property?
And what’s the difference in tripping/boinking in the den, the basement, or a hole in the ground?
Methinks the Puritans made cowards of us all.
Exactly, FRiend. I fail to see the crime here. To Mr. Nicholas I say "Carry on"!
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