Celebrity Private Eye Accused of Illegally Spying
A private investigator in Hollywood is about to go on trial for a collection of sordid offenses that sound as if they belong in a script. The prosecution's witness list is particularly star-studded, making the whole case seem more like something intended for the big screen than the courtroom.
Anthony Pellicano and several co-defendants are charged with masterminding a criminal network that involved wiretapping telephone lines, bribing police officers and telephone company employees, and racketeering.- Pellicano allegedly used the confidential information that he obtained with the wiretaps to assist his clients in gaining the upper divorce cases and other business lawsuits.
Prosecutors say that Sylvester Stallone and Garry Shandling were victims of Pellicano's scheme. They both appear on the prosecution's list of 127 potential witnesses, as does Chris Rock according to a report by the Associated Press.
Prosecutors say that Sylvester Stallone and Garry Shandling were victims of Pellicano's scheme. They both appear on the prosecution's list of 127 potential witnesses, as does Chris Rock according to a report by the Associated Press.
Pellicano allegedly wiretapped Stallone's phone and recorded his telephone calls. He is also accused of illegally accessing confidential law enforcement records pertaining to other celebrities and entertainment industry figures contained in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
As a private investigator to the stars, Pellicano was reportedly paid huge sums of money to dig up incriminating, confidential and embarrassing information. The prosecution alleges that in doing this, he violated the law.
The case is rolling along and lawyers have already selected the jury. No one is certain of how many people will actually testify in the case, but with the cast of characters on the witness list, it is sure to be interesting. Pellicano is representing himself in the case, rather than having a qualified criminal defense lawyer assist him.
The prosecution has also included Brad Grey, the chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures, and Ron Meyer, the president and chief executive officer of Universal Studios, on their list of potential witnesses. It has been reported that federal authorities have questioned Grey and Meyer about their connections to Pellicano. Federal authorities have also reportedly questioned prominent celebrity attorney Bert Fields.
Chris Rock may have benefited from Pellicano's shady services during a paternity case that was brought against him. Rock was found not to be the father of the child in that case. Representatives for Chris Rock retained the services of Pellicano when the paternity case began.
Pellicano and two of his co-defendants allegedly raked in almost $2 million in a racketeering scheme, according to prosecutors. Retired Los Angeles police Sgt. Mark Arneson and former telephone company worker Rayford Earl Turner are accused of being involved and profiting in the racketeering scheme with Pellicano. Arneson is accused of helping Pellicano hack into the NCIC database, and Turner allegedly assisted with the telephone wiretaps.
Kevin Kachikain, another co-defendant in the case, is a software engineer who allegedly developed a computer program to assist Pellicano with recording the wiretapped telephone conversations of his targets.
Pellicano, Arneson, Turner, Kachikian and another co-defendant, Abner Nicherie, have pleaded not guilty in the case.
Craig Stevens, an ex-cop, was charged with receiving money from Pellicano for hacking into the Beverly Hills Police Department computer system. Stevens has already pleaded guilty to six felony counts in connection with the Pellicano case.
Teresa Wright, a former phone company manager, allegedly provided Pellicano with toll records, phone numbers and home addresses of phone customers. She has pleaded guilty to a single felony count of unauthorized access of protected computer information. She and Craig Stevens are reportedly cooperating with federal officials in the case against Pellicano and his co-defendants.