Posted on 04/08/2009 3:24:13 PM PDT by lewisglad
Whitney Houston secretly paid a $400,000 ransom demand to kidnappers who threatened to kill her ex-husband Bobby Brown, a new book claims.
Brown was snatched and held "naked and hog tied" at gunpoint by members of a notorious New York street gang known as the Preacher Crew, according to author David Collins.
Former gang member Collins claims in his autobiography, Preacher of the Streets, that Brown was snatched over a $25,000 debt to a New Jersey drug dealer.
Brown was allowed to make one phone call to Whitney, in which he pleaded with her to personally deliver the ransom to an abandoned building in the Bronx. Disguised in a wig and dark glasses, the terrified singer obeyed, and handed over a duffle bag containing the cash 24 hours later to 6ft 7in gang boss Clarence "Preacher" Heatley, says Collins.
He claims the kidnapping, which was never reported to police, happened in April 1993 when Whitney was at the peak of her fame with her film and soundtrack The Bodyguard.
(Excerpt) Read more at wizbangpop.com ...
I would not have paid 10 bucks for the goffy dude
If you’re going to go that far, why stop at $400k? You may as well as for a couple million.
stupid is as stupid does
That’s one heck of a loan shark operation! 25k to 400k...
Money down a rat hole

Clarence "Preacher Heatley," pictured above in black suit.
After three decades of allegedly terrorizing, extorting, murdering and torturing Harlems major drug dealers, "The Preacher Crew," was captured by the F.B.I.'s C11 squad. This secretive elite squad was formed to apprehend the "Preacher Crew."
The leader, Clarence "Preacher" Heatley allegedly cooperated with the F.B.I., snitching on his own crew!
The Preacher crew's chief lieutenant: Mr. John Cuff aka "Captain Jack Frost," pictured above in the background (is rumored to be the only man Preacher feared). Frost was sentenced to life plus 145 years after preacher's testimony.
Her money, her hubby. Like one poster states: why stop at 400 thou?
That’s a pretty poor ROI, Whitney.
18 Indicted on Murder and Drug Charges
By LYNDA RICHARDSON
Published: Friday, November 15, 1996
The 47-count indictment, unsealed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, charges that Clarence Heatley, a 43-year-old man who grew up in Harlem, founded the gang, Preacher Crew, in 1983. He was was called Preacher because of his persuasive oratory, the authorities said.
Mr. Heatley later recruited the housing police officer, John Cuff, who was working in the Bronx from 1982 to 1987, to help run the enterprise, law enforcement officials said. The former housing officer alone is charged with eight murders.
ROFLMAO!!!
She should have paid $400,000 to take him away.
You mean: It's her perogative.
If she knew then what she knows now...
“Money down a rat hole”
It was her prerogative.
I was about to say. Bobby Brown was the worst thing that ever happened to Whitney Houston.
yup; she can spend her money any way she wants... considering this time was to allegedly ransom her drug-addled hubby from dealers.... well, I think that could have been more wisely spent on rehab or divorce proceedings. but yes, her own money can be spent however she wishes
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