CBS) David Copperfield's legal troubles may be worsening.
The illusionist reportedly offered a
woman accusing him of sexual assault $2 million to drop her allegations,
even as other women are apparently claiming Copperfield uses his shows to target
pretty women and try to pick them up.
According to various reports, FBI agents last week raided a Las Vegas warehouse
Copperfield owns and, among other things, took a computer hard drive, a memory
chip from a digital camera system, and $2 million in cash from a safe. A
Copperfield attorney and the FBI deny that any money was taken from the
warehouse.
Seattle police now say authorities are
probing a woman's claim that she was sexually assaulted by Copperfield. It
supposedly happened on his $50 million estate in the Bahamas in late July. The
FBI confirms that an allegation out of Seattle prompted the warehouse raid.
In an interview in the National Enquirer, a "friend" of the 21-year-old Seattle
woman gives details of the alleged sexual assault and payoff attempt.
According to the tabloid, the friend
says the woman flew from Seattle to the Bahamas to attend what she'd been told
was a lavish party Copperfield was going to throw but, when the accuser arrived,
there was nobody there but Copperfield. The Enquirer says the woman was
told she could leave, but that she could stick it out for the night if she
wanted and leave the next day. That night, the friend told the Enquirer,
Copperfield forced himself on the young
woman. The next day, the friend says, the woman returned to Seattle and
went right to a hospital, where a rape exam was performed. The friend says the
woman purposely didn't shower after the alleged assault, so traces of semen
could be preserved, and the woman also took cell phone pictures of the supposed
crime scene.
The friend says agents from Seattle's FBI office worked with the woman to put
together a "sting" operation in which the woman e-mailed Copperfield, and
arranged for her to fly to Las Vegas for a face-to-face meeting, during which
the $2 million was offered.
Copperfield lawyers say he never forced himself on anyone, and he's being
spotlighted because he's rich and famous.
Jew_preyed_on_audience
On Thursday, TMZ.com had an interview with a girl it said is named Amanda, who
claimed she was "singled" out by Copperfield just a couple days before his
warehouse was raided. When she was led backstage by an assistant, Amanda said,
her photo was taken and was asked questions about her taste in perfume and
whether she liked the Bahamas. Amanda said she felt "creeped out" by the whole
situation but, "He was in and out in less than 10 seconds and they said it was a
meet and greet, but I think, after they realized I was married, he decided to
just sign my pictures."
TMZ says several other women posted similar stories on the TMZ message board.
TMZ also says Copperfield targets females in the audience by using key words
such as "mama" and "secrecy."
On The Early Show Friday, CBS News legal analyst Mickey Sherman and Court TV
anchor Lisa Bloom discussed the allegations Copperfield is facing and agreed
making them disappear won't be easy.
To watch the interview, click here.
Report: Copperfield Rape Accuser Claims Magician Also
Threatened Her
Sunday, October 28, 2007
E-Mail Print Share:
AP
David Copperfield
SEATTLE — A federal grand jury is
investigating allegations that magician David Copperfield raped and threatened a
Washington state woman at his estate in the Bahamas, a newspaper
reported.
The Seattle Times reported Saturday that
at least three federal law-enforcement officials, whom the paper did not
identify, confirmed the grand jury investigation. No indictment or
criminal charges have been filed.
The woman told law enforcement that she and her family were approached by a
member of Copperfield's entourage at a Jan. 25 performance in the Tri-Cities
area of Eastern Washington, The Times said. They were given special seats, and
Copperfield selected the woman to come on stage as part of his act, the sources
told The Times.
Click here to read the TMZ report
The 21-year-old woman said Copperfield later said he could help with her
modeling career and invited her to his estate in the Bahamas.
The woman said she made the trip in late July, and found she was the only guest
on the secluded island with Copperfield. She told Seattle police, and later the
FBI, that Copperfield raped and struck her, and threatened her when she left
after two days, sources familiar with her allegations told The Times.
RelatedStories
Report: FBI Raid of David Copperfield's Warehouse May Involve His Pick-Up
Techniques FBI Raids Magician David Copperfield's Las Vegas Warehouse
Copperfield's attorney, David Chesnoff of Las Vegas, repeated Saturday that
Copperfield "has never forced himself on anyone." He
said grand jury investigations are supposed to be secret.
"We've been asked to respect the confidentiality of the investigation, and
apparently law enforcement officials have violated the confidentiality, which
undermines the integrity of the entire investigation," Chesnoff said.
Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office here, said Saturday
that the office would have "absolutely no comment."
"We do not confirm or deny that there is an investigation under way by our
office," she said.
On Oct. 17, FBI agents searched Copperfield's warehouse and a casino hotel in
Las Vegas, where the magician regularly performs.
The FBI has said only that the Las Vegas
investigation was part of a Seattle case.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305696,00.html
(AP) Longtime magician David Copperfield is learning that even magic can't
make the FBI disappear.
David Copperfield has been contacted by law enforcement authorities and the
FBI has conducted an investigation in
Las Vegas, where the magician regularly performs, his lawyer and the FBI
confirmed.
Copperfield has a warehouse in Las Vegas that he has dubbed the International
Museum & Library of the Conjuring Arts. He apparently stores tricks and
memorabilia from around the world at the warehouse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photos: That Old Black Magic
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I can confirm that there's investigative activity at the warehouse," FBI
Special Agent David Staretz, spokesman for the Las Vegas office, said Thursday.
Staretz wouldn't give further details.
Copperfield's Las Vegas attorney, David Chesnoff, said his client had been
contacted by investigators.
"We understand there is an investigation, are in touch with the investigators,
and are respecting the confidentiality of the investigation," Chesnoff said.
KLAS-TV reported that an FBI raid with
12 agents took place Wednesday at
Copperfield's
warehouse.
"I can say that there was investigative activity yesterday and yesterday evening
in Las Vegas," Seattle FBI Agent Robbie Burroughs said Thursday, without
specifying where the activity took place or who was involved.
"The investigation is related to a Seattle case. The Seattle case is pending and
that means we can't say anything about it," Burroughs said.
Copperfield, 51, has been a longtime performer at the Hollywood Theater at the
MGM Grand casino-hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, where he has performed in six- to
eight-week stints several times a year, said MGM Mirage Inc. spokeswoman Yvette
Monet.
Monet said Copperfield performed two shows Wednesday night, which were at the
end of his most recent run. Monet said Copperfield was next scheduled to perform
in Jakarta, Indonesia.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3428884n%3fsource=search_video
(CBS) David Copperfield's legal troubles may be worsening.
Jew offers cash
The illusionist reportedly offered a
woman accusing him of sexual assault $2 million to drop her allegations,
even as other women are apparently claiming Copperfield uses his shows to target
pretty women and try to pick them up.
According to various reports, FBI agents
last week raided a Las Vegas warehouse Copperfield owns and, among other things,
took a computer hard drive, a memory chip from a digital camera system, and $2
million in cash from a safe. A Copperfield attorney and the FBI deny that
any money was taken from the warehouse.
Seattle police now say authorities are probing a woman's claim that she was
sexually assaulted by Copperfield. It supposedly happened on his
$50 million estate in the Bahamas
in late July. The FBI confirms that an allegation out of Seattle prompted the
warehouse raid.
In an interview in the National Enquirer, a "friend" of the 21-year-old Seattle
woman gives details of the alleged sexual assault and payoff attempt.
According to the tabloid, the friend
says the woman flew from Seattle to the Bahamas to attend what she'd been told
was a lavish party Copperfield was going to throw but, when the accuser arrived,
there was nobody there but Copperfield. The Enquirer says the woman was told she
could leave, but that she could stick it out for the night if she wanted and
leave the next day. That night, the friend told the Enquirer, Copperfield forced
himself on the young woman. The next day, the friend says, the woman returned to
Seattle and went right to a hospital, where a rape exam was performed. The
friend says the woman purposely didn't shower after the alleged assault, so
traces of semen could be preserved, and the woman also took cell phone pictures
of the supposed crime scene.
The friend says agents from Seattle's FBI office worked with the woman to put
together a "sting" operation in which the woman e-mailed Copperfield, and
arranged for her to fly to Las Vegas for a face-to-face meeting, during which
the $2 million was offered.
Copperfield lawyers say he never forced himself on anyone, and he's being
spotlighted because he's rich and famous.
On Thursday, TMZ.com had an interview with a girl it said is named Amanda, who
claimed she was "singled" out by Copperfield just a couple days before his
warehouse was raided. When she was led backstage by an assistant, Amanda said,
her photo was taken and was asked questions about her taste in perfume and
whether she liked the Bahamas. Amanda said she felt "creeped out" by the whole
situation but, "He was in and out in less than 10 seconds and they said it was a
meet and greet, but I think, after they realized I was married, he decided to
just sign my pictures."
TMZ says several other women posted similar stories on the TMZ message board.
TMZ also says Copperfield targets females in the audience by using key words
such as "mama" and "secrecy."
On The Early Show Friday, CBS News legal analyst Mickey Sherman and Court TV
anchor Lisa Bloom discussed the allegations Copperfield is facing and agreed
making them disappear won't be easy.
To watch the interview, click here.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3396708n%3fsource=search_video