Posted Jul 3rd 2009 9:16AM by TMZ Staff
California State Attorney General Jerry Brown has launched an investigation into the prescribing practices of Michael Jackson's doctors.
Brown says his office will help the LAPD track the controlled substances that made their way to Jackson. The State's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement will be combing files. It's the same method Brown used to track prescriptions in the Anna Nicole Smith case.
As we first reported, Jackson used various aliases to score drugs, including Omar Arnold and Jack London. We've learned at least one high-end pharmacy in the area where Jackson lived did its own search and has turned up the name Omar Arnold in its database.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: Anna Nicole Smith, AnnaNicoleSmith, jack london, JackLondon, Michael Jackson, MichaelJackson, omar arnold, OmarArnold
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 2:30PM by TMZ Staff
Rihanna picked up a tattoo needle last night at a parlor in NYC -- which would be totally fun and cool, if it wasn't also incredibly illegal.
We're told RiRi tattooed three of East Side Ink's artists with umbrellas and the letter R. None of her pet projects cared that she didn't have a license -- but the NYC Law Department does.
They say Rihanna could be slapped with three misdemeanors for the offense, each with its own hefty penalty -- as much as $300 for the first offense, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third.
Sources say the tattoo shop could also face considerable fines of its own if the NYC Law Dept. decides to open an investigation.
UPDATE: The NYC Health Department just told TMZ: "Only licensed tattoo artists can administer tattoos in the city according to the City's Health Code. We are sending someone down to follow up on this."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Rihanna
Tags: east side ink, EastSideInk, inked, rihanna, riri, tattoo, tattoo artist, TattooArtist
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 12:04PM by TMZ Staff
We've learned Gary Coleman's wife was arrested last night for domestic violence and disorderly conduct in Santaquin, Utah -- where the couple has a home.
According to the sheriff's website, Shannon Price was booked for the two misdemeanors at 8:32 PM and then released on $1,205 bond.
Cops tell us Shannon allegedly broke household items belonging to Gary and that he was not physically harmed.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: gary coleman, GaryColeman, shannon price, ShannonPrice
Posted Jun 29th 2009 11:00AM by TMZ Staff
Bernie Madoff was just sentenced to 150 years in prison.
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: bernie madoff, BernieMadoff, ponzi, prison, sentenced
Posted Jun 28th 2009 3:09PM by TMZ Staff
Coolio copped a deal in his crack cocaine case -- avoiding jail time by pleading guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance.
Charges of battery and possession of a smoking device were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea, and the rapper was ordered to spend 18 months in a rehabilitation program.
Coolio was busted with the drugs back in March at LAX.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: coolio
Posted Jun 25th 2009 11:00AM by TMZ Staff
Stealing from Dane Cook allegedly runs in the family.
With his brother Daryl McCauley already facing charges for allegedly embezzling millions from the "comedian," McCauley's wife Erika was arrested today as well.
According to the Attorney General's office in Massachusetts, Erika will be arraigned today on charges of larceny by scheme and receiving/concealing stolen property."
Daryl was charged back in March with eight counts of larceny over $250, forgery and larceny by continuous scheme. According to prosecutors, McCauley once forged a $3 million check written from Cook's account to himself.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: dane cook, DaneCook, daryl mccauley, DarylMccauley, emebezzle, erick mccauley, ErickMccauley, money, steal
Posted Jun 25th 2009 9:40AM by TMZ Staff
The pregnant woman caught in the wake of "Rampage" Jackson's crazy monster truck chase last year claims the UFC star caused "the stillbirth of her baby" when he rammed into her car.
Holli Griggs filed a lawsuit against Rampage in Orange County, California -- claiming he repeatedly rammed into her car "so he could escape and flee the scene (hit and run)." Griggs says "the impact of her abdomen with the steering wheel caused her amniotic fluid membranes (bag of waters) to rupture, ultimately resulting in the stillbirth of her baby."
FYI -- Rampage was never charged in relation to the death after an investigation revealed that the miscarriage was unrelated to the accident.
Griggs filed the suit anyway, claiming Rampage owes her more than $25k for property damage, personal injury and emotional distress.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Tags: lawsuit, rampage jackson, RampageJackson, sued
Posted Jun 25th 2009 9:07AM by TMZ Staff
Sarah Jessica Parker's surrogate mama needs security, because paparazzi are overrunning the little town where she lives.
So the PD has been asked to help. Who, you ask, will take charge of the go team? The police chief who is under investigation for allegedly breaking into her home and trying to sell info about her and Sarah to a tabloid.
We spoke with officials in Martins Ferry, Ohio, who told us Police Chief Barry Carpenter will manage the team assigned to protect the surrogate.
The mayor told us that he has his concerns but has faith in the police department ... isn't that called blind faith?
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Sarah Jessica Parker
Tags: Sarah Jessica Parker, SarahJessicaParker, surrogate mother, SurrogateMother
Posted Jun 25th 2009 8:25AM by TMZ Staff
The long estranged daughter of Billy Bob Thornton has been charged with first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a one-year-old girl who died under her care.
Back in October, Amanda Brumfield told cops the child died after falling from her playpen -- but detectives had a hard time believing her story because it wasn't consistent with the little girl's injuries.
An autopsy determined the child suffered a fractured skull and a subdural hematoma due to blunt trauma.
When the story initially broke, Thornton's publicist told TMZ that the two haven't spoken for "quite some time."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: amanda brumfield, AmandaBrumfield, baby, billy bob thornton, BillyBobThornton, florida, murder, ocala
Posted Jun 25th 2009 1:40AM by TMZ Staff
Many have probably thought about it -- but this is the guy accused of actually doing it.
TMZ has obtained the mugshot of Polo Marino -- the manager of the Black Eyed Peas who was arrested for allegedly punching blogger Perez Hilton after the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto on Sunday night.
Marino, who is on probation stemming from a DUI arrest in California, could spend six months in jail if the D.A. in Orange County moves to violate his probation.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: assault, black eyed peas, BlackEyedPeas, muchmusic awards, MuchmusicAwards, perez hilton, PerezHilton, toronto
Posted Jun 24th 2009 5:20PM by TMZ Staff
The Black Eyed Pea manager who allegedly socked Perez Hilton could be on his way to jail ... because dude is on probation for a DUI.
Polo Molina was busted for 2006 DUI in Orange County -- he was convicted on April 30, 2007 and placed on 3 years probation.
The D.A. could move to violate his probation and he could end up in the slammer for 6 months.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: dui, perez hilton, PerezHilton, polo molina, PoloMolina
Posted Jun 24th 2009 5:00AM by TMZ Staff
Jazz legend Herbie Hancock can still attract a crowd -- but last night he got an unexpected audience in the form of the LAPD.
Cops showed up at Hancock's pad in the Hollywood Hills just before midnight last night. Turns out he accidentally tripped the silent alarm in his house. Since that usually means a robbery in progress, six officers and a supervisor showed up on scene.
When they got there, Hancock realized his mistake and was extremely apologetic to the officers.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: alarm, cops, herbie hancock, HerbieHancock, lapd
Posted Jun 24th 2009 1:45AM by TMZ Staff
Nothing ruins a good friendship like money -- so it's safe to say Pierce Brosnan and Quentin Tarantino won't be talking to Michael Madsen anytime soon.
Seems Madsen is in debt to both guys big time. According to bankruptcy documents Madsen filed earlier this month, he owes $25,000 to 007 -- but he's into QT for a cool $1 million!
Pierce and QT shouldn't hold their breath while they wait for the "personal loans" to get paid back -- Madsen is almost a total of $4 million in the hole, and the docs say his net monthly income is $-3,392.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: bankrupt, bankruptcy, kill bill, KillBill, michael madsen, MichaelMadsen, pierce brosnan, PierceBrosnan, quentin tarantino, QuentinTarantino
Posted Jun 23rd 2009 6:00PM by TMZ Staff
There's a report floating out there that Kate Gosselin has been separated from Jon for two years. That's not true, and we have the lowdown.
We now know what Kate checked on the divorce papers, which are confidential. There are two grounds for a no fault divorce in Pennsylvania -- the first is waiting 90 days after the papers have been served. Then, if both Jon and Kate agree the marriage is "irretrievably broken" ... the divorce can proceed.
And there's a second option -- that they have lived separate and apart for 2 years. But that doesn't mean they've actually been separated for that long. It means she must wait 2 years from the moment she considered the marriage kaput and began living separately (if only in different bedrooms). We're told the real separation between Jon and Kate is very recent and Kate checked the box just to get the clock ticking.
We found out Kate checked both boxes, and here's why. Jon may not agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken. If that's the case she has to wait the two years. So by checking both boxes, Kate is hedging her bets.
Ultimately, she would have to prove to the judge when she considered herself separate from Jon.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Jon & Kate
Tags: divorce, jon and kate, jon and kate gosselin, jon and kate plus 8, JonAndKate, JonAndKateGosselin, JonAndKatePlus8, kate gosselin, KateGosselin
Posted Jun 23rd 2009 5:30PM by TMZ Staff
Daryl Hannah has a smooth, flawless, gorgeous face that can stop traffic -- and today she got arrested for just that.
The 48-year-old "Clan of the Cave Bear" star, a NASA scientist and their ragtag group of protesters were arrested in West Virginia after blocking off a road leading to a coal processing plant in Raleigh County. Hannah's crew was protesting mountaintop removal mining -- a type of mining criticized for allegedly harming the environment.
30 were arrested in total and booked on misdemeanor charges of obstruction and impeding traffic.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: arrest, daryl hannah, DarylHannah, mining, protest, raleigh county, RaleighCounty
