October 5, 2005

CHARLIE WILSON BUMPED OFF OF DC CONCERT 

TWO MEN WHO SECRETLY RECORDED MJ ARE INDICTED: Conspiracy is among the charges handed down after pair record singer during flight.

Two men were indicted on federal charges of secretly recording conversations between Michael Jackson and his lawyer two years ago as they flew from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara to surrender in a child-molestation investigation.

Jeffrey Borer and Arvel Jett Reeves were charged with conspiracy, endeavoring to intercept oral communication and witness tampering in an alleged scheme between Nov. 19, 2003 and Nov. 21, 2003. According to the three-count indictment filed Wednesday, the pair allegedly used two digital camcorders and remote microphones to record "a professional entertainer and his attorney" during the flight via private jet from Vegas to Santa Barbara. 

The “entertainer” they recorded was Michael Jackson, said a source familiar with the case who asked not to be identified because Jackson is not cited by name in the indictment, reports The Associated Press.

Borer was the owner of XtraJet, which operated a Gulfstream jet that carried Jackson. Reeves was the owner of Executive Aviation Logistics, which provided maintenance service for XtraJet's aircraft fleet. Xtrajet officials discovered the tape of Jackson and immediately turned it over to the FBI. A judge ordered the company not to make or distribute copies. Xtrajet's attorney said at the time that company officials didn't know who was responsible for making the tape.

Attorney Mark Geragos, Jackson’s lawyer during the incident, complained at the time that the action violated attorney-client privilege in the child-molestation case. Last June, a jury acquitted Jackson of all charges in that case.

According to the indictment, Reeves bought the video and audio equipment from three electronics stores in San Bernardino County and, with another suspect, secretly installed the equipment in a hidden portion of the airplane's cabin. The microphones were allegedly installed between passenger seat cushions. Borer, who instructed Reeves to obtain and install the equipment, later contacted news companies and offered to sell the recordings, the indictment said according to AP.

In April 2004, according to the indictment, Reeves told a suspect to lie to FBI agents by saying that the video equipment was installed in an attempt to catch someone who had been stealing alcohol from the aircraft.




MOBO INVITES LAURYN HILL TO REPLACE AMERIE: ‘That Thing’ was to substitute for ‘1 Thing’ after Amerie flees to Oprah.

Lauryn Hill was scheduled to perform “Doo Wop (That Thing)” at last night’s Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards in London in replacement of singer Amerie, who pulled out at the last minute after receiving an invitation to tape a performance on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” reports Contact Music. 

Amerie, whose “1 Thing” was nominated for Best Single, was scheduled to perform the go-go-tinged song to open the ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall. But when Oprah called, the 25-year-old cancelled her appearance and booked a flight to Chicago, leaving organizers scrambling to fill her opening slot.

Hill says that her longtime absence from the public eye almost led her to turn down MOBO’s offer. "My own insecurities have prevented me from really being more public. I saw this invitation as an opportunity to challenge myself," Hill said. 

Hill also chose the gig over the threat of a potential run-in with the family of her ex-husband, Rohan Marley – who along with “Welcome to Jamrock” singer Damian Marley were scheduled to perform a special tribute on the show to the late Bob Marley. 

BERRY REAFFIRMS HER ANTI-MARRIAGE VIEWS: Actress tells Fox columnist she’s ‘done with men.’

It looks as if Halle Berry hasn’t budged from the sentiment she expressed on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” in July 2004, when the actress declared she would never marry again after the infidelity suffered during her marriage to singer, Eric Benet.

Fox 411’s Roger Friedman approached her at an Emmy afterparty Sunday after witnessing that she had attended the ceremony with her manager, Vincent Cirrincione, and his wife on Sunday. He asked Berry why she had come without a bonafide date. "I'm done with men," she said, with a chuckle. "I'm going to be alone. I have no luck with relationships. I don't think I'm made for marriage." When suggesting that she could hook up with her future “Perfect Stranger” co-star Bruce Willis, she joked: "He had his chance. He was living next door to me for a while in Malibu. But he's gone now." As previously reported, “Perfect Stranger” stars Berry as a woman who goes undercover to investigate her friend's murder and gets caught up in the world of obsessive love online.

FOXY BROWN TO UNDERGO SURGERY: Rapper says operation planned to address hearing loss.

While straining to hear the questions of reporters following her court appearance on assault charges, rapper Foxy Brown said that she is planning to undergo surgery soon to repair a lingering hearing defect.

The Brooklyn native was fielding questions outside of Manhattan Criminal Court Thursday where she attended a hearing regarding her alleged assault of two nail salon workers. Without further details, she said that an operation was being scheduled to address her hearing impairment. 

As for the matter inside the court house, Judge Martin Murphy set a trial date for Dec. 5 after Foxy, a.k.a. Inga Marchand, rejected at least two misdemeanor plea deals that would have given her 10 days of community service in lieu of possible jail time. Prosecutors say she assaulted one worker with a close fist while kicking her, and hit a second worker in the face.

"I'm innocent," Foxy said of her misdemeanor assault, attempted assault and harassment charges outside the courthouse. "I feel like I'm being railroaded." Brown's lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, said that he would consider a plea to disorderly conduct, an offense that is less than a misdemeanor, should prosecutors ever put such a deal on the table.

NEW EDITION MEMBER SET TO RELEASE A SOLO ALBUM

Ralph Tresvant of New Edition is preparing to release a new solo album in Oct/Nov 2005. He has quietly been working very closely with Xzault Media Group, Inc in California and has created an incredible new album that is sure to thrill his old fans and pacify his old fans that have waited patiently for another solo release since his "Sensitivity" album in 1992. Ralph has recently purchased shares of Xzault Media Group, Inc and will also be very involved in the business of producing Film, T.V. and at least two new albums with his new company. You can expect to see a whole lot more of R.T. in the very near future. (Some business insiders who have heard some of the new tracks are starting to talk about Grammy prospects in Ralph's future relted to the new album). ...For the record, Ralph is still completely involved with his group New Edition and there is no threat of a breakup...As far as we know, all of the members are greatly looking forward to the next New Edition album (Hopefully sometime next year).

DESTINY’S CHILD LOADS UP GREATEST HITS: Set due Oct. 25; comes with music videos, three new joints and a trailer for their concert DVD.

Destiny's Child's #1's,” the trio’s first-ever greatest hits collection, will arrive in stores on Oct. 25 with 13 of their biggest-selling and highest-charting hits – from "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name" through "Lose My Breath" and "Soldier." 

The collection also includes three never-before-released tracks: the album's first single "Stand Up For Love (2005 World Children's Day Anthem)," "Feel The Same Way I Do," and a new Beyonce tune "Check On It" (from the upcoming "The Pink Panther" prequel co-starring Beyonce). 

A DualDisc edition of “#1's” will include the album on the audio-only side while the DVD side features the album's 16 songs in 5.1 stereo as well as music videos for seven songs – “No, No, No Part 2" (featuring Wyclef Jean), "Say My Name," "Survivor," "Bootylicious," "Independent Women Part I," "Lose My Breath," and "Soldier." 

As a bonus, #1's premieres an exclusive trailer featuring scenes from the opening of the upcoming "Destiny's Child -- Live In Atlanta" concert DVD.