Anthony Pellicano was a Los Angeles based private investigator notable for his high-profile and celebrity clients. He was arrested on charges of illegal wiretapping and racketeering on February 4, 2006. The trial of Anthony Pellicano began in early March of 2008. On May 16, 2008 Pellicano was convicted on racketeering, wiretapping and other charges.
Sentencing took place for Pellicano on December 15, 2008. He received a sentence of 15 years in prison. His four accomplices are scheduled for sentencing in January 2009.Los Angeles Times: Pellicano gets 15 years... (December 15, 2008)
P.I. to the Stars
Pellicano was a private investigator for many of Hollywood's biggest celebrities. His former associate, Paul Barresi, alleges that Pellicano would buy tabloid reporters' stories and offer to pay them off if they would, in return, not leak the story to the media.
Charges
On February 4, 2006 Pellicano was arrested on charges of illegal wiretapping and racketeering. He was charged with 110 counts of racketeering and conspiracy, wiretapping, witness tampering, identity theft and destruction of evidence. The indictment was amended on February 15, 2006 and two more charges of wiretapping and extortion were added. He was convicted on May 16, 2008.
Weapons Possession 2002
In 2002, FBI agents raided Pellicano's office and found two practice grenades turned into homemade bombs and military-grade C-F explosives that had enough power to take down a passenger plane. The bombs were found while officers were searching for evidence that he was involved with threatening Los Angeles Times reporter Anita Busch, who was investigating his then-client Steven Seagal.
Pellicano was arrested in and plead guilty to possessing dangerous materials. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Pellicano was set to be released on February 4, 2006, but then was transferred to a Los Angeles jail due to the subsequent indictment.
Illegal Wiretapping
The case against Pellicano implicates the police departments of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, suggesting that they supplied Pellicano with unlawfully obtained confidential records on several celebrities. Allegedly, Pellicano conducted illegal wiretaps on Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Nealon, Garry Shandling and others. On August 29, 2008, Pellicano was convicted of conspiracy to commit wiretapping, along with attorney Terry Christensen, in relation to a case involving investor Kirk Kerkorian's ex-wife.The New York Times: Pellicano Convicted of Conspiracy (August 29, 2008)
Anthony Pellicano Background and Information
References
Fast Facts
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Born
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Birthplace
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Convicted of possession of illegal weapons and dangerous materials in 2002
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Served a four year sentence, but was then held on wiretapping charges
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Allegedly played clients against each other
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Allegedly organized illegal wiretapping and death threats against reporter Anita Busch
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In 2006, reporter Allison Weiner used Pellicano's California Bar Association membership to unethically gain access to Anthony Pellicano in prison, against the warden's orders
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