Breaking: Pellicano Found Guilty

Posted by Eriq Gardner

It took more than a week of jury deliberation, but Hollywood private investigator Anthony Pellicano was convicted on federal racketeering charges today.

Pellicano came into the courtroom with a grin on his face but stared nonplussed at the judge when the verdict was read.

Details about the conviction, including the fates of his alleged co-conspirators are still coming in, so stay tuned.

UPDATE: Pellicano was convicted of all but one of the 77 counts against him. Each of the racketeering counts carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, while most of the other counts have five-year maximum sentences. Sentencing is set for Sept. 24. "We went by the evidence," said Terri Winbush, forewoman of the 12-member jury. "There was a lot of evidence." The jury also Pellicano's co-defendants guilty. “We are extremely pleased and gratified,” said lead prosecutor Daniel A. Saunders as he left the courthouse. We'll have more reaction tomorrow.

Comments

[BF]

Forward thinking LA law firms and corporate legal departments will look at this result, refamiliarize their staff with what wiretapping is and then audit the living s@#% out of their outside and in-house security departments or this scandal will play out again and again.

Plausible deniability seems worn out, worn thin and to presume otherwise in a future where the FBI has taken enormous heat for only going after the supply side would be incredibly naive.