Posted May 22nd 2008 2:56PM by TMZ Staff
Wesley Snipes just got a little more time to practice not dropping the soap in the shower: TMZ has learned that Wes won't have to check into the big house until his appeal -- should it be granted -- is finished.
The judge in his tax evasion case in Florida just issued an order granting Snipes bail until his appeal goes through. The message from the judge is that this could take a while: "The Court recognizes that ... the disposition of an appeal may well equal -- or nearly equal -- the length of the term of the commitment imposed."
The big question is: Will Snipes pull a Martha Stewart and just check himself in anyway to get this behind him?
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 22nd 2008 6:19AM by TMZ Staff
Unless something drastic happens in the next week or so, Wesley Snipes is going to be moving into the big house by June 3. Always bet on black and white stripes.
In papers filed this week, Snipes' lawyers said that if he doesn't get bail to appeal his tax evasion convictions, he's going to have to check into Hotel Graybar sometime in the next couple weeks. They're trying to appeal on the grounds that the trial judge effed up in various ways the first time around.
The prosecution isn't exactly inclined to give Snipes bail -- remember that whole on-the-lam thing? And we're sure that the man can run.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 21st 2008 4:41PM by TMZ Staff
The guy who's played the token Russian on pretty much every show on TV (oh that guy!) says the producers of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" have bilked him out of $5 million.
Boris Krutonog -- probably most recognizable as Helmsman Lojur from "Star Trek: Voyager" -- wants A&E to pony up for money he says he's owed for co-executive-producing the show. He's listed as a co-EP on "Bounty Hunter" until 2007, when the show went off the air for a little while. Igor Ivan Boris also alleges that Dog and Mrs. Dog had a pretty mean bark, creating an "intolerable" workplace. Hey, they are felon-chasers!
A&E told us they can't comment on pending litigation.
UPDATE: The Chapman's attorney Marty Singer tells TMZ "It is unfortunate that Boris Krutonog, who was Dog Chapman's and Beth Chapman's former agent and manager, has made gratuitous, ridiculous and outrageous statements about his former clients. Mr. Krutonog was fired for cause more than two years ago after he refused to work on the series."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 21st 2008 12:23PM by TMZ Staff
"Boner" is a free man! A judge ruled on Friday that Andrew Koenig, better known as "Boner Stabone" from "Growing Pains" won't face any more jail time or fines for protesting a Chinese float at this year's Rose Parade. Mike Seaver would be so proud!
Cops arrested Koenig after he ran in front of the float holding up a sign that read, "China: Free Burma" and threw him in the clink for more than eight hours - not so fun, especially if you're nickname is "Boner."
The former child star, now 39, promises to, "continue working to help the Burmese - just not by jumping in front of floats." It's not like he's got much else going on. We're just sayin'.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Wacky and Weird
Posted May 21st 2008 10:32AM by TMZ Staff
Boy band man Lou Pearlman -- the guy who made the Backstreet Boys and 'NSYNC famous -- just got 25 years in the big house for money laundering and conspiracy, among other shady s**t.
Big Lou pleaded guilty back in March to a long, complicated con game that basically pumped up his net worth and cheated other people out of millions. The judge gave him the maximum sentence.
Bye, bye, bye.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 21st 2008 8:45AM by TMZ Staff
Floyd Mayweather is gettin' in the ring with an Internet site that is allegedly using his name, face, fight footage -- you name it -- to get $50 out of unsuspecting Floyd fans.
He got into the legal ring with the purveyors of FloydMayweather.net, a site that fearlessly flaunts itself as his official fansite. Only problem is: Floyd says he has nothing to do with it. In a Nevada lawsuit, Pretty Boy says the domain name is "distinctive and famous."
The boxer/dancer is seeking unspecified damages.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 20th 2008 7:31PM by TMZ Staff
NBA Hall of Famer and legendary blackjackaholic Charles Barkley has finally forked over a check toward the $440,000 he owes the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas -- but officials have yet to confirm that Barkley paid in full.
According to a Wynn rep, the check has been sent to the Las Vegas D.A.'s office for processing.
Barkley insists he's giving up gambling for the next couple of years -- wanna bet?
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted May 20th 2008 7:23PM by TMZ Staff
Dylan McDermott, better known as, "oh yeah, that guy," from "The Practice" and a bunch of other canceled shows, has officially pulled the plug on his marriage.
McDermott and actress wife Shiva Rose were married for nearly 12 years before separating in March of 2007. The couple, who cited irreconcilable differences for the split, has two kids together -- Dylan is asking for joint custody.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Break-Ups
Posted May 20th 2008 5:55PM by TMZ Staff
Billy Bob Thornton is under fire for allegedly being a huge cyber-pest -- the kind that shoots off annoying e-mails and plants bugs in people's homes.
According to an LAPD report filed by Elysabeth Cherniak -- the sister of Billy Bob's fourth wife -- Thornton has been harassing her for nearly two years. She originally thought he was trying to "court her," but then "the e-mails became more insulting." She also believes "Mr. Thorton [sic] has listning [sic] devices in her home."
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they are waiting for Cherniak to bring in copies of the emails and other evidence so they can continue their investigation.
Thornton was married to Pietra Cherniak from 1993-1997, and the couple had two children.
Billy Bob's rep tells us this is "absolutely false," adding, "Billy doesn't use e-mail and never has. Anyone who knows him would know that." The rep says the woman has "a history of making these very same false accusations in the past."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 20th 2008 1:54PM by TMZ Staff
Michael Jackson could become the next Celine Dion, and we're not just talkin' wardrobe.
TheVegasEye reports the guys who just bailed Jacko out of Neverland debt may be angling to put him on stage in Vegas.
These money men run Colony Capital, a group that owns the Las Vegas Hilton. Colony just forked over the green M.J. needed to keep Neverland out of foreclosure.
So, you ask, what's in it for Colony? We're told Vegas money is on Jackson headlining there and raking in a much-needed jackpot. Colony has the venue -- it's where Barry Manilow performed -- and now the leverage to moonwalk his ass back on stage.
Jacko's peeps didn't return our calls for comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 20th 2008 12:10PM by TMZ Staff
Charles Barkley's mouth is writing checks his wallet apparently can't cash. Last night the baller announced he's finally paid back the $400K he owes the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Vegas. Only he hasn't.
Immediately following Barkley's proclamation that he was paid in full, Clark County D.A. David Roger told the Las Vegas Sun, "We have no evidence to suggest that he has made any payments. We have neither heard from Mr. Barkley nor received restitution from him."
And get this -- Barkley not only has to repay the Wynn, he also has to pay an extra 10% fee -- $40,000 -- to the bad check unit.
He could be charged with a felony if he doesn't pay up.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted May 20th 2008 11:41AM by TMZ Staff
It only took eight years, but misdemeanor possession charges against Whitney Houston have been dropped. This after cops caught the "crack is whack" singer with Mary Jane at a Hawaiian airport back in 2000. Her record is now clean ... in Hawaii anyway.
Houston was not arrested at the time, and allegedly ditched the sack with less than half an ounce and three partially smoked joints before getting on her flight with then hubby Bobby Brown.
Maybe she should've ditched Bobby back then too -- we're just sayin'.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Fly Me
Posted May 20th 2008 11:10AM by TMZ Staff
The action is going to get hard core in the R. Kelly trial this morning -- by which we mean, of course, hard-core pornography!
We're told that the defense may try to make one last-ditch attempt to get the XXX-rated videotape allegedly featuring R. Kelly and an underage girl and micturition -- the lynchpin of the state's case -- thrown out as evidence, but the judge has ruled previously that it's going to get played.
Yes -- believe it -- the R. Kelly trial is actually starting, after only, oh, almost six years.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 20th 2008 8:40AM by TMZ Staff
An ex-maintenance man for Latin music megastar Alejandro Sanz admitted that he tried to get the star to pay him $500K -- and just took a plea deal to avoid going to trial.
The worker, Carlos Gonzalez, and his wife Sylvia Alzate admitted to making extortion threats and agreed to two years' probation just before jury selection was to begin in their Florida trial. They faced up to 50 years in prison if convicted.
They had threatened to release unspecified info to the Spanish language media about Sanz unless they were paid $500K. Shortly after the threat, Sanz admitted that he had a three-year-old son from a previous relationship.
Sanz collaborated with Shakira on her 2005 hit "La Tortura."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 19th 2008 9:26PM by TMZ Staff
It's official -- Jermaine Jackson is officially on the market again.
Jackson and now ex-wife Alejandra signed off and their divorce became final today. They agreed to everything. Here's the headline: Jermaine will pay off a $100,000 debt; in return, Alejandra waives all spousal support. Good deal for him, since they married way back in 1995. As for the debt, $50,000 is to pay her attorney's fees and the other 50 grand is for Jermaine to become current on child support.
She gets physical custody of the kids and he gets visitation of Jaafar and Jermajesty. He pays $3,000 a month in child support. He gets to keep his business -- Jermaine Jackson Entertainment, Inc., and he also gets to keep his jewelry. So which is more valuable -- his company or the jewels?
BTW, they agree not to trash each other in front of the kids. We love happy endings.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music
