Stars Come Out in Hollywood Wiretap Case
Tony Pellicano was the "Private Eye to the Star." However, Pellicano's investigative techniques included threats, illegally tapping phones, and bribing police and telephone company officials to run illegal checks. Consequently, Pellicano and his associates are now in a California district court on numerous charges, including wire fraud, identity theft and illegal wiretapping. Hollywood elite who have already testified at the trial include Garry Shandling, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Rock, Paramount Pictures CEO Brad Grey and former Walt Disney Co executive Michael Ovitz.
Pellicano's activities were finally discovered when he smashed the windshield on the car of investigative journalist Anita Busch and left a dead fish on the car with a rose in its mouth and a note saying "Stop" in 2002. Later, two men tried to kill Bush at her apartment. Police raided Pellicano's Hollywood office and uncovered evidence of his illegal tactics.
Pellicano is acting as his own attorney at the trial. The prosecution was forced to drop 28 charges when it could not bring forward the witnesses to prove them, and has rested its case.
