Magician David Copperfield in big legal trouble?

[lesterge]

Not sure what this is all about, but probably not good for the guy:


Source (http://rawstory.com/news/afp/FBI_raids_magician_David_Copperfiel_10192007.html)
FBI agents raided a Las Vegas storage warehouse belonging to magician David Copperfield, seizing nearly two million dollars in cash, US media reported Friday.


Twelve Federal Bureau of Investigation agents took a computer hard drive, digital camera memory chip and the cash during an overnight Wednesday raid on Copperfield's storage space in Las Vegas, according to KLAS television in Las Vegas.


The warehouse is connected to an investigation that began in the northwestern state of Washington, according to KLAS.
The FBI Las Vegas office told KLAS that agents also went to the MGM-Grand Hotel and Casino on the Vegas Strip, where Copperfield often performs and is scheduled to appear for a two-week stint in mid-November.


The FBI did not say what they were looking for.
"We understand there is an investigation, we are in touch with the investigators, and are respecting the confidentiality of the investigation," Copperfield's lawyer David Chesnoff said in a brief statement.


Will David's freedom disappear?

[bbt630]

doesn't look good for him.

Sex + feds + hard drives = child porn, usually.

yet another one falls. sad.

[Gray]

David Copperfield Rape Probe - Police have seized nearly $2 million in cash from Illusionist David Copperfield Las Vegas warehouse as part of their alleged rap e investigation.

Copperfield is currently being investigated by police after a woman claimed to have been raped by Copperfield in the Bahamas. The FBI has now found and seized $2 million in cash at Copperfield's Las Vegas warehouse.http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212110118.shtml

[Gray]

What kind of a moron keeps 2 million in cash?

[lesterge]

Wow, he's screwed. The two million in cash alone (probably undeclared to the IRS) is probably enough to send him up the river.

[TombRaiderBC]

doesn't look good for him.

Sex + feds + hard drives = child porn, usually.

yet another one falls. sad.

I'd think the $2 million in cash might indicate something a little more going on here, don't you think?? As well as the fact that these items were seized from a storage warehouse.

:confused:

[malnila]

My first thought on $2mil in cash was big time money laundering. And rape charges? I guess looks can be deceiving...:rolleyes:

[flores_in_texas]

With the kind of money he has, why would he rape a woman? Couldn't he have a harem of women to choose from?

[TombRaiderBC]

Wow, he's screwed. The two million in cash alone (probably undeclared to the IRS) is probably enough to send him up the river.

Why would you assume that because someone has a large sum of cash it must be illegal or undeclared income?

This guy has made millions legally. So there's no reason to believe his cash was illegally obtained or never reported. Unless there's evidence he's involved in some illegal activity, such as drugs, or white slavery!

:whistle:

[lesterge]

With the kind of money he has, why would he rape a woman? Couldn't he have a harem of women to choose from?

You'd think, but it's really about control. Lots of wealthy/famous folks have done the same over the years....

[Gray]

Why would you assume that because someone has a large sum of cash it must be illegal or undeclared income?

This guy has made millions legally. So there's no reason to believe his cash was illegally obtained or never reported. Unless there's evidence he's involved in some illegal activity, such as drugs, or white slavery!

:whistle:


Having that much cash on hand looks very bad.

[doghouse]

Wow, he's screwed. The two million in cash alone (probably undeclared to the IRS) is probably enough to send him up the river.


He probably makes that in one show. What's the problem here and why can't the authorities just mind their own business.

What a joke.

[Vic Daring]

Also found in Copperfield's warehouse: A lear jet, an assortment of "beautiful assistants," and the Statue of Liberty.

[lesterge]

Why would you assume that because someone has a large sum of cash it must be illegal or undeclared income?


Well for one thing: the Feds wouldn't have seized it if he had proof of how he had obtained/paid taxes on it.


What's the problem here and why can't the authorities just mind their own business.

What a joke.

Yeah, police shouldn't investigate rape allegations...

[doghouse]

Well for one thing: the Feds wouldn't have seized it if he had proof of how he had obtained/paid taxes on it.

What, you want a receipt? A pay stub? How about if he showed a series of withdrawals.


Yeah, police shouldn't investigate rape allegations...

I was talking about the storage contents.

[lesterge]

What, you want a receipt? A pay stub? How about if he showed a series of withdrawals.

I was talking about the storage contents.

Uh yeah. That would actually do the trick.

There's obviously a reason they went to the storage house. The FBI says it was directly connected to the investigation.

[doghouse]

Uh yeah. That would actually do the trick.

There's obviously a reason they went to the storage house. The FBI says it was directly connected to the investigation.

What is odd is that this guy must own several homes and yet he keeps stuff in a storage house.

That itself is suspicious. Like did he think no one would ever find out whose it is. It's not exactly like a numbered Swiss Bank account.

I learned a new word today that applies here "avoision"- the idea is to reach “a forbidden outcome … as a by-product of a permitted act.” In a classic tax shelter, for instance, you do something perfectly legal (like investing in a business guaranteed to lose money) in order to reach a result that would otherwise be illegal (evading taxes). Here he rented a storage box legally to hide something that was illegal.

[TombRaiderBC]

Having that much cash on hand looks very bad.

The guy makes $57 million dollars a year. So it's not at all unreasonable to believe that he might have $2 million in legal cash tucked away for a rainy day. I suppose you or I might not participate in any legal activity that would require $2 million in cold cash. But if you're an international jet-setter who dates super models that kind of pocket money might come in handy I suppose.

In any event, the news reports indicate that the investigation centered on some sexual misconduct. So perhaps the cash was hoarded away as hush-money or a bribe. Or perhaps it has nothing at all to do with anything. Who knows?

:whistle:

[lesterge]

The guy makes $57 million dollars a year. So it's not at all unreasonable to believe that he might have $2 million in legal cash tucked away for a rainy day. I suppose you or I might not participate in any legal activity that would require $2 million in cold cash. But if you're an international jet-setter who dates super models that kind of pocket money might come in handy I suppose.

In any event, the news reports indicate that the investigation centered on some sexual misconduct. So perhaps the cash was hoarded away as hush-money or a bribe. Or perhaps it has nothing at all to do with anything. Who knows?

:whistle:

Point is: there's a reason the Feds seized it.

We probably won't know why until there's an arrest.

[ThrowCop]

Point is: there's a reason the Feds seized it.

We probably won't know why until there's an arrest.I imagine they seized it because it was there & it was certainly suspicious.

Doesn't look good, that's for sure.

[TombRaiderBC]

Point is: there's a reason the Feds seized it.

We probably won't know why until there's an arrest.

I'm not sure what the laws are regarding seizing cash... but I imagine if cops obtain a warrant to seize your computer, or seize the black gloves that you might have been wearing when you hacked your ex-wife to death, or seize this or that evidence out of your storage locker... and in the course of rummaging through your drawers they discover a large sum of cold cash... or gold bullion... or diamonds... then I suppose there may be some legal obligation on the part of the investigators to 'confiscate' those types of valuables... for your protection and for theirs. Otherwise... what's to prevent Copperfield from running out and claiming he had $5 million in cash in that storage warehouse? And demanding to know what happened to the missing $3 million once the police left?

I imagine that might be a very good reason why the FBI would not leave $2 million in cash sitting out in bags or boxes in a storage locker after they'd grabbed the computers they were looking for... but I'm no legal expert... so this is all nothing but speculation.

:whistle:

[madasheck]

You'd think with all the illusions he know, he could have made the money disappear. (OK, couldn't resist. Surprised no one said this sooner.)

Still, I agree that the Feds wouldn't necessarily seize the money without cause, especially from someone as well known as he is. However, I hope it's all nothing. I've seen his show in person and it was a lot of fun.

[GibsonSG]

If he was such a good magician, why didn't he make the "evidence" disappear?

Also, I am surprised someone hasn't posted here accusing him of being a Republican, since he may have a scandal involving sex brewing here. Lately that has been a recurring theme on the boards.

[GibsonSG]

You'd think with all the illusions he know, he could have made the money disappear. (OK, couldn't resist. Surprised no one said this sooner.)

Still, I agree that the Feds wouldn't necessarily seize the money without cause, especially from someone as well known as he is. However, I hope it's all nothing. I've seen his show in person and it was a lot of fun.


hehehe, Mad...you beat me to it.

[madasheck]

Here's a link to a much longer version of the story in the OP. It talks about the warehouse where the money was located. It sounds like something akin to the Batcave.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2697351.ece

[madasheck]

hehehe, Mad...you beat me to it.

Just barely. :) Great minds ...

[Mithrastan]

With the kind of money he has, why would he rape a woman? Couldn't he have a harem of women to choose from?

Don't know, but I've heard some things about him being some kind of a perv.
I'll hold off until I hear more about this.

[Lee Kington]

Well for one thing: the Feds wouldn't have seized it if he had proof of how he had obtained/paid taxes on it.

I would say that the cash was part of their investigation but not necessarily because it was illegally obtained. Large amounts of cash is an alarm signal to law enforcement. In many cases it should not be. It is not uncommon for the wealthy to keep a significant amount of 'emergency' funds in their home or business. On the other hand.... being stopped on the highway or boarding a plane with 10 thousand or more in cash on you can lead to difficulties. In some cases it will takes years to get the funds 'back' .... if you do at all.

[DONTTREADONME]

[QUOTE=lesterge;14476511]Not sure what this is all about, but probably not good for the guy:



Will David's freedom disappear? QUOTE][/Now that is just a very clever quote.

I am not going to jump to any conclusions, but when the FBI raids your business, or warehouse in this case, and they take money and PC hard drives you are in some sort of big trouble.[/I][/B]

[Paul31]

... On the other hand.... being stopped on the highway or boarding a plane with 10 thousand or more in cash on you can lead to difficulties. In some cases it will takes years to get the funds 'back' .... if you do at all.
As a couple of yoyo's found that out a few months ago after being pulled over for speeding and their 3 million dollars were seized. No drugs were found, but the state trooper seized the money. The one person claimed he didn't know whose money it was, but have now decided he wants it back. Yeah good luck with that sucker!!!! :))

[notluzn]

How about we wait and see what happens before we all jump on the bandwagon

[chip]

How about we wait and see what happens before we all jump on the bandwagon

Pulease.


Thats no fun. :confused:

[Paul31]

I'm not sure what the laws are regarding seizing cash... but I imagine if cops obtain a warrant to seize your computer, or seize the black gloves that you might have been wearing when you hacked your ex-wife to death, or seize this or that evidence out of your storage locker... and in the course of rummaging through your drawers they discover a large sum of cold cash... or gold bullion... or diamonds... then I suppose there may be some legal obligation on the part of the investigators to 'confiscate' those types of valuables... for your protection and for theirs. Otherwise... what's to prevent Copperfield from running out and claiming he had $5 million in cash in that storage warehouse? And demanding to know what happened to the missing $3 million once the police left?

I imagine that might be a very good reason why the FBI would not leave $2 million in cash sitting out in bags or boxes in a storage locker after they'd grabbed the computers they were looking for... but I'm no legal expert... so this is all nothing but speculation.

:whistle:
Asset Forfeiture laws would allow them to seize the money.

[rhet 2]

How about we wait and see what happens before we all jump on the bandwagon

Funny. I just heard a report on the situation and was thinking "Duke U. team. Wait." :))

[ScottFree]

Also found in Copperfield's warehouse: A lear jet, an assortment of "beautiful assistants," and the Statue of Liberty.


Oh man! Now that there is funny!:)):)):)):))

[TombRaiderBC]

Asset Forfeiture laws would allow them to seize the money.

Well, certainly if the money was derived from criminal activity it could be forfeited. The question I raised was what happens to a large sum of cash that's found during a legitimate search that is not related to any criminal activity?

Perhaps the police would just leave a big bag of money laying around in a home or a storage unit for the owner to collect later. There's no law against keeping a big bag of money around if you so choose, right?

But if I were a cop searching with a warrant, and came upon $2M unexpectedly, I doubt I'd want to leave it there and risk something happening to it after I departed. I'm sure there is case law and standard operating procedures here. Perhaps one of our legal experts or cops can weigh in.

[Bryan Dalton]

He made a deal with the devil to get Claudia Schiffer to marry him. Now it's payback time!

[cyph3r7]

ok he's got $2mil in cash lying around and he had to rape someone?

you know what kinda (and how many) hookers you could get for that kinda bling?

[Paul31]

ok he's got $2mil in cash lying around and he had to rape someone?

you know what kinda (and how many) hookers you could get for that kinda bling?
He could have paid for the services of every chick at Sheri's Ranch. And those are the most expensive hookers in Nevada. Then go down the road to the Chicken Ranch and he still would have had plenty of money left over.

[notluzn]

How about you all wait. 3 sides to every story. His, Hers and the truth. Just wait..

[conservative_frk]

ok he's got $2mil in cash lying around and he had to rape someone?

you know what kinda (and how many) hookers you could get for that kinda bling?
rape is about control and not really about sex.

[CrusaderFrank]

Also found in Copperfield's warehouse: A lear jet, an assortment of "beautiful assistants," and the Statue of Liberty.

LOL!

[kevinobryan]

Hey no joke, one of my friends aunts used to date Copperfluke( I just patented that) and said he was a weirdo in every sense of the word. She told stories of how he would be on the phone with her and suddenly show up inside her house. The dude has always given me the creeps. We were supposed to see one of his shows last March and the bum cancelled the show 45 minutes before show time cuz he was sick.

[CrusaderFrank]

Watch me make this indictment disappear...

[Radioflyer]

What kind of a moron keeps 2 million in cash? Was it in a freezer?

[madasheck]

The more I read about this (the latest stories now mention the rape allegations) the more skeptical I am about the whole thing. Certainly, it could be true, but to have it come up out of nowhere and with nothing like this in the past just seems to give the story a slimy feel to it. He may be a strange guy (after all, he is a magician), but strange doesn't mean criminal.

[dittoheadAZ]

doesn't look good for him.


What are they going to do if they arrest him, put him in handcuffs? I have a feeling it's not going to do much good...

:think:

:mrgreen:

[dittoheadAZ]

Was it in a freezer?

:)) :)) :))

*POST OF THE DAY*

[Gray]

Was it in a freezer?

If this was a rape accusation and the police had a warrant to look for a specific thing, such as a video camera or tape, then I believe the warrant does not likely cover finding something else?

[Paul31]

If this was a rape accusation and the police had a warrant to look for a specific thing, such as a video camera or tape, then I believe the warrant does not likely cover finding something else?
The police can seize anything else while doing a search. The exclusionary rule I think is what it's called. Also the plain view doctrine could apply too. Lets say the police want to search my house for a stolen television. They can search anywhere in the house where it could be. Which means they can't do a legal search in the kitchen cupboard for it. But let's say they do a search there and find drugs. They can't charge me for posession but they can still seize it. Now lets say they are searching for some stolen jewelry, and look in the kitchen cupboard and find drugs, they can seize it and also charge me for it. Why? because the kitchen cupboard could likely contain the jewelry.

[Lee Kington]

National entertainment media and others have repeated the story about the seizure of money, and FBI officials are now concerned the publicity could damage their investigation and is unfair to Copperfield, who has not been charged with a crime.

"No currency was seized during our investigating activity in Las Vegas," said Seattle FBI Special Agent Robbie Burroughs. "Media reports to the contrary are false." LINK (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003964810_webcopperfield20.html)

It appears that all is not as reported.

[AmericanSpirit]

How about we wait and see what happens before we all jump on the bandwagon

Why? Assuming is a lot more fun...

I am betting child porn...hardives and digital cameras...a warehouse with lots of cash.

I bet child porn...

[Lee Kington]

Why? Assuming is a lot more fun...

I am betting child porn...hardives and digital cameras...a warehouse with lots of cash.

I bet child porn...

You are wrong.

A law-enforcement source has said it involves a Seattle woman who said she was assaulted by Copperfield while in the Bahamas. The source declined to be named or provide other details because of the sensitive nature of the investigation. The source said the issue was whether or not the woman consented to sex.

David Chesnoff, attorney for David Copperfield, on Saturday said it was "important these allegations be put into perspective."

"An unidentified woman has made serious allegations against David Copperfield," Chesnoff said. "Although authorities have not revealed her identity to us, we know these allegations are false because David Copperfield has never forced himself on anyone."

Same link as my previous post.

[chichimama]

What are they going to do if they arrest him, put him in handcuffs? I have a feeling it's not going to do much good...

:think:

:mrgreen:

:))

[madasheck]

There's a comment from a user at the San Francisco Chronicle website (look for Squab24, about halfway down) (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=21301#comments) where the guy says Copperfield invited his wife onstage to help with a trick, then afterwards got her email and contact info to, he said, get her to do the same thing in another city. He later invited her to visit him in the Bahamas. (Ummm....) I think he was thinking of a different kind of magic. :snooty:

[VRWCbabe]

With the kind of money he has, why would he rape a woman? Couldn't he have a harem of women to choose from?
Rape isn't a crime of passion, it's a crime of POWER. Please try to quit being so patently offensive.

[notluzn]

I realize that people CLAIM RAPE FROM RICH people when they are in good chance of getting millions fast. Did Koby's little trial mean anything to people?

[OldBuzzard]

Something here just dosen't 'feel' right.

If the alleged rape occured in the Bahamas, then why is the alligation made to US authorities, and not to the Bahamian ones?

Can the US even prosecute someone for a crime committed in another country? Or was the raid on behalf of the Bahamian authorities?

Not saying he did or didn't do it, that's for someone's legal system get to the bottom of. It just seems odd given what information we have at this point.

[AmericanSpirit]

You are wrong.



Same link as my previous post.

Well while I admit I am making a great assumption it still remains to be seen if I am wrong. This incident may not be related to the last one. Not that I wouldn't mind being wrong anyway. I hope if is innocent of whatever.

[sayanika]

Okay everybody, once I and my friend have gone to watch a magic tricks where the magician had told me to choose a card at random and so did my friend, I choose the 8 of diamonds and he chose the 6 of spades, we both wrote our names on the cards we picked, his on the front and mine on the back. The magician shuffled the deck and produced our card but with our names both on his card. How did he do this?
_______________
magic card tricks (http://www.wizardsmagicchest.com/learning-center.aspx)

[TombRaiderBC]

The magician shuffled the deck and produced our card but with our names both on his card. How did he do this?

Simple. He used his crystal ball the day before the show to 'see' you and your friend would be coming on stage. Then he wrote your names on his card in advance. The part about having you and your friend write your names down while on stage was simply a diversion to make you think this all happened at the spur of the moment. If you'd known he'd written your names down the night before, that might have spoiled the trick.

Make sense now?

:razz:

[netranika]

Okay, I have a sweet girlfriend. And I want to do a romantic dance with her. So I have planned a diner at my house. Now I just want to know when I pick her up I want to do a magic trick where I pop a rose in my hand all of a sudden. How do you do that? I am looking for some better ones. But I don’t have any reference. Any suggestions or reference would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

[thr3]

I went to see his show at the MGM in Vegas last month. It was msot impressive.

This stuff, hummm.

[CaptainPike]

The guy makes $57 million dollars a year. So it's not at all unreasonable to believe that he might have $2 million in legal cash tucked away for a rainy day. I suppose you or I might not participate in any legal activity that would require $2 million in cold cash. But if you're an international jet-setter who dates super models that kind of pocket money might come in handy I suppose.

In any event, the news reports indicate that the investigation centered on some sexual misconduct. So perhaps the cash was hoarded away as hush-money or a bribe. Or perhaps it has nothing at all to do with anything. Who knows?

:whistle:

Why would he store his money in a warehouse?

I guess he could have kept the money there because he was expecting to meet someone at the warehouse. Maybe he buys new equipment from time to time.

And if he's got 2 million just sitting around in storage in vegas, the rape charges don't make sense. How long does it take to drive from vegas to the bunny ranch?

[BillBrown]

Something here just dosen't 'feel' right.

If the alleged rape occured in the Bahamas, then why is the alligation made to US authorities, and not to the Bahamian ones?

Can the US even prosecute someone for a crime committed in another country? Or was the raid on behalf of the Bahamian authorities?

Not saying he did or didn't do it, that's for someone's legal system get to the bottom of. It just seems odd given what information we have at this point.


If Copperfield induced the woman to travel to the Bahamas, with intentions of forcing her to have sex, he could be charged under the Mann Act.

That's a possibility, but it would be very difficult to prove.