Posted on 05/16/2006 9:08:22 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
A Hollywood producer has agreed to plead guilty to income tax evasion and conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with an alleged scam that bilked millions of dollars from people who thought they were investing in a television series about the Department of Homeland Security, according to a report published Tuesday.
Joseph Medawar, 44, faces up to 10 years in prison and $9 million in fines under the plea agreement, which is set to come before a federal judge on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing federal court documents filed Monday. He also would pay $3.4 million in restitution to scores of defrauded investors.
The plea also would require that Medawar cooperate with the FBI, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorney's Office in future investigations.
Prosecutors had alleged that from May 2003 through September 2005, Medawar told investors that his production company, Steeple Entertainment, was about to sell stock to the public and that it was worth more than $200 million. As part of the alleged scheme, he falsely claimed 26 episodes of "DHS" were in post-production and that the company had distribution deals with 137 overseas markets.
The woman Medawar had billed as the show's lead actress - 41-year-old Allison Ann Heruth - admitted to helping Medawar cover up the scam, pleading guilty last month to one felony count of making false statements to the FBI and the IRS.
Medawar also is accused of involving several prominent politicians in the scam, including Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, who reportedly believed the proposed TV series would shine a positive light on the Department of Homeland Security. The Times reported that Rohrbacher helped open doors for Medawar in Washington D.C.
Medawar's indictment also accused him of falsely telling more than 70 investors that President George W. Bush endorsed "DHS: The Series."
Liberal Hollywood strikes again!
Pigs!
That's pretty funny. The DHS Hollywood scam looks a lot
like the DHS Government Agency scam. To put it another way,
neither Hollywood or the District of Columbia gave anyone
anything for their money, when it comes to the DHS.
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