By Victoria Kim and Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times
June 15, 2011, 9:38 p.m.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2009 investigated allegations that Shaquille O'Neal was connected to a beating, robbery and kidnapping by gang members of a man claiming to have a sex tape of the basketball star, according to records reviewed by The Times.
Detectives found phone records showing a "flurry of calls" between the alleged ringleader of the assault and O'Neal's business partner around the time of the February 2008 incident, a sheriff's investigative report said.
O'Neal and his business partner, Mark Stevens, denied any involvement in the attack when interviewed by sheriff's investigators. Neither man has been charged in connection with the case.
The victim, Robert Ross, told authorities in early interviews that he believed O'Neal was behind the attack because of a business deal gone bad, and because O'Neal believed he had a tape of the former Lakers center having sex with a woman other than his wife.
This week, Ross testified in Los Angeles County Superior Court during a preliminary hearing for seven members of the Main Street Crips gang accused of kidnapping him at gunpoint from West Hollywood and beating him while demanding the videotape. The gang members face charges of kidnapping, robbery, assault with a firearm and criminal conspiracy.
"The motive for the crime was retaliation by a 'celebrity' who believed Ross was having an affair with his wife," Capt. David Smith of the sheriff's homicide bureau wrote, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Times. "The celebrity enlisted the help of seven 'Main Street Crip' gang members with extensive criminal histories to commit the kidnap, robbery and assault."
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-me-shaq-investigation-20110616,0,687565.story
June 15, 2011, 9:38 p.m.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2009 investigated allegations that Shaquille O'Neal was connected to a beating, robbery and kidnapping by gang members of a man claiming to have a sex tape of the basketball star, according to records reviewed by The Times.
Detectives found phone records showing a "flurry of calls" between the alleged ringleader of the assault and O'Neal's business partner around the time of the February 2008 incident, a sheriff's investigative report said.
O'Neal and his business partner, Mark Stevens, denied any involvement in the attack when interviewed by sheriff's investigators. Neither man has been charged in connection with the case.
The victim, Robert Ross, told authorities in early interviews that he believed O'Neal was behind the attack because of a business deal gone bad, and because O'Neal believed he had a tape of the former Lakers center having sex with a woman other than his wife.
This week, Ross testified in Los Angeles County Superior Court during a preliminary hearing for seven members of the Main Street Crips gang accused of kidnapping him at gunpoint from West Hollywood and beating him while demanding the videotape. The gang members face charges of kidnapping, robbery, assault with a firearm and criminal conspiracy.
"The motive for the crime was retaliation by a 'celebrity' who believed Ross was having an affair with his wife," Capt. David Smith of the sheriff's homicide bureau wrote, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Times. "The celebrity enlisted the help of seven 'Main Street Crip' gang members with extensive criminal histories to commit the kidnap, robbery and assault."
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-me-shaq-investigation-20110616,0,687565.story