blackmail news stories on Newser

Businessman Blackmailed Berlusconi: Cops

Matt Cantor — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:44:05 CDT

The “bunga bunga” fallout continues: Police nabbed an Italian businessman for allegedly blackmailing Silvio Berlusconi in the sex scandal that’s clouded his tenure as prime minister. Giampaolo Tarantini has acknowledged recruiting women for Berlusconi’s alleged sex parties, but he’s maintained that the PM didn’t know that some were escorts. Police...

Before Gulf, BP Had Azerbaijan Spill: WikiLeaks

Matt Cantor — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:10:06 CST

Eighteen months before the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the company experienced a similar huge leak in Azerbaijan, WikiLeaks cables reveal. The firm was tight-lipped about the incident, angering its partners, the cables note, adding that BP was fortunate in getting its 212 workers to safety, the...

After Sordid Trial, Louisville Coach's Blackmailer Guilty

Rob Quinn — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 05:34:27 CDT

A woman who tried to blackmail Louisville coach Rick Pitino after a brief sexual encounter was found guilty on all counts yesterday. Prosecutors during the sordid and sensational 8-day trial said former model Karen Sypher demanded millions of dollars from the married coach, falsely accused Pitino of rape after he...

Ex's Sister Suspected of Leaking Gibson Tapes

Nick McMaster — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:50:37 CDT

Authorities suspect Oksana Grigorieva's sister of leaking recordings of Mel Gibson's rants to RadarOnline.com. Natalie Grigorieva is said to have shopped the tapes to various media outlets, but Radar was the only one that agreed to pay up without hearing them first. "I suspect that if the authorities look...

Blackmailed Bones Star: I'm a Cheater

M. Morris — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:24:17 CDT

Staying ahead of a former mistress he believes is trying to blackmail him, Bones star David Boreanaz admits he's cheated on his wife. "Our marriage has been tainted with my infidelities," the Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer star tells People . "I was irresponsible." He says of his wife of...

Letterman Opens Up About Cheating Scandal

Nick McMaster — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:45:00 CDT

David Letterman is dead set on repairing his marriage after the infidelity that led to an extortion attempt last year, People reports. Appearing on Live! With Regis and Kelly, Letterman likened the events of last year to "an explosion," saying, "You're looking at the shards and you say, 'Well, can...

Letterman to NYPD, Prosecutors: Thank You

M. Morris — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:31:29 CST

The David Letterman blackmail case ended with a guilty plea today, and the Late Night host wasted little time thanking the prosecutors and investigators who nailed Robert Halderman. "I’d never been involved in anything like this in my life, and I was concerned and full of anxiety and nervous and...

Letterman Blackmailer to Plead Guilty Today

Harry Kimball — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:16:00 CST

Accused David Letterman blackmailer Robert Halderman will have that “accused” dropped today when he pleads guilty to extorting the late night host for $2 million. According to details of the deal obtained by the New York Post , Halderman will serve 6 months in jail and 4½ years of probation, and...

Facebook Teen Sex Blackmailer Gets 15 Years

John Johnson — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:12:29 CST

A Wisconsin teenager who used Facebook to blackmail fellow male students into sex acts has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Anthony Stancl, now 19, posed as a girl on the site and solicited nude photos from at least 31 young men. He then threatened to make them public...