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Jury Finds PI Pellicano Guilty of Racketeering and Conspiracy

By Ashby Jones

This just in: A federal jury has found Los Angeles private detective Anthony Pellicano guilty of racketeering and conspiracy. The verdict could reportedly mean a penalty of eight to 10 years in federal prison. Here’s the early story from the LAT. Click here for all previous LB coverage on Pellicano.

Pellicano, who represented himself at trial, had been accused of running a scheme in which he allegedly used wiretaps and bribed law-enforcement officials and others to obtain confidential information on individuals. Federal prosecutor Daniel Saunders told jurors that Pellicano, 64, and his associates were a “corrupt criminal organization that disguised itself as a legitimate private investigation agency.”

Pellicano did work in connection with disputes for a range of glitterati, such as entertainment lawyer Bert Fields, head of Paramount Brad Grey, and talent agent Michael Ovitz — though none of those three has been charged with wrongdoing. Terry Christensen, an LA attorney who’s worked for billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, allegedly conspired with Pellicano to tap the telephone of Kerkorian’s former wife. Christensen, who has pleaded not guilty, awaits his trial.

According to the LAT account, Pellicano sat grinning and looking around room before the verdicts were read. But when he realized the jury had found him guilty, he crossed his arms, took his glasses off and looked around the courtroom without expression.

In his closing to the jury, writes the LAT, he never even mentioned certain accusations made against him scoffed the notion that he was the leader behind a criminal enterprise. He was, he said, “a lone ranger.”

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on May 15, 2008 (boomark / email).