Posted on 01/21/2011 11:06:23 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Maria Gabriela Hashemipour, 51, agreed to plead guilty to one count of access device fraud as part of a deal in which federal prosecutors will drop 40 other counts.
Two of actress Liv Tyler's credit cards had about $214,000 (£134,000) in fraudulent charges from the beauty salon over a five-month period last year, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
Prosecutors declined to release names of other victims but, according to the New York Post, thousands of dollars in charges were also made to actresses Anne Hathaway, Melanie Griffith, Penelope Cruz and Cher.
Hashemipour may also face a fine of up to $250,000 (£156,000) and must pay full restitution to her clients.
She could also be deported. The indictment filed against her said she was born in Mexico, not in Spain as she had claimed, and she had fraudulently obtained a US passport.
"My client accepts full responsibility for the mistakes she has made, despite the fact that her actions caused minimal if any actual monetary loss," said defence lawyer Nina Marino.
Hashemipour was arrested in August at her business, Chez Gabriela Studio in Beverly Hills. Her website said her clientele also includes Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry.
The case came to the attention of investigators after a lawyer for jewel designer Loree Rodkin's said about $68,000 (£43,000) had been charged to her credit card from Hashemipour's studio without her authorisation.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
‘Hashemipour’ doesn’t sound very Mexican to me.
“The credit card companies are the ones who will probably take the hit”. Wrong! Consumers like you and me end up paying the bill.
Yeah. How do you do that? I guess we’re handicapped abiding by laws.
No but Hashemipour, “touched” them (see below).
[excerpt] ...Hashemipour offered $25,000 worth of products in exchange for the charges, but Rodkin refused.
Rodkin also told the authorities that she knew of other clients, including Hathaway, who had similar charges on their credit card, according to court papers.
Prosecutors believe Hashemipour charged up to $1million in bogus transactions but the opposing sides dispute the total amount, which they will argue out at sentencing in around two months’ time.
‘I’m happy it’s over and she’s going to jail,’ the jewellry designer told the New York Post.
‘I’ve recovered the money from the credit card company but it’s the fact someone can steal from you who is in a position of trust. It’s staggering.
‘I mean [a hairstylist] is someone you see on a regular basis, who touches you, touches your face. Ewww, gross.’ [End Excerpt]
Iranian?
It is middle eastern, probably Persian.
Kinda thought “/s” was implied
Ping!
Gimme a break, you know what I meant and the actual point of it was that because these celebrities will not have to pay out of pocket directly, there is no need for them to testify or press charges or get heavily involved in the matter in any way. The celebs get to avoid personal public humiliation and avoid a public trial showcasing their grooming expenses and habits.
The crook’s lawyer would call the celebs as witnesses, for example:
Lawyer: “So Celebrity #1, are these charges for back hair removal real, or fraudulent?”
The crook’s lawyer likely used this as leverage to get the plea because Television would have a field day with this if there was a trial.
So pretty. Too bad she’s gay.
Holly weird, [says it all]
Sorry, that photo does nothing for me. I defer to the gentlemen of the forum on this score.
It’s a good thing her victims are progressive liberals and support the redistribution of wealth.
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