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Private eye jailed for bugging stars
Ed Harris16 Dec 2008
HOLLYWOOD private investigator Anthony Pellicano has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a wiretapping scheme that spied on the rich and famous.
A Los Angeles judge also ordered the 64-year-old Pellicano and two other defendants to forfeit $2 million.
"I have taken full and complete responsibility for all my actions," Pellicano said. He was convicted of 78 counts, including wiretapping, racketeering and wire fraud, in trials earlier this year.
The judge said Pellicano engaged in "reprehensible behaviour" while digging up dirt for his well-heeled clients to use in legal and other disputes. "He did this eagerly, sometimes maliciously, and with extreme pride."
Prosecutors said Pellicano wiretapped stars such as Sylvester Stallone and bribed police officers to run the names of celebrities through law enforcement databases to gain information.
