Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy of The Week Award

A Hollywood private investigator was convicted Thursday of federal racketeering and other charges for generating information to use in lawsuits, divorces and contract disputes against the rich and famous.

Anthony Pellicano was accused of wiretapping stars such as Sylvester Stallone and running the names of others, such as Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon, through law enforcement databases to help clients in legal and other disputes.

Pellicano was found guilty of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy, along with wiretapping, wire fraud, identity theft, conspiracy to intercept or use wire communications and manufacture or possession of a wiretapping device.

Power brokers with links to Pellicano, such as entertainment attorney Bert Fields, Paramount studio head Brad Grey and one-time superagent Michael Ovitz, insisted they didn't know about his methods and weren't charged.

A number of dramas played out during the trial including  Chris Rock testifying about a model he believed was trying to shake him down. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Saunders urged jurors not to get caught up in the glitz of the case saying:

"This case is about corruption, about cheating, greed, arrogance and the perversion of the justice system. It just happened to take place in Hollywood.”

During his closing argument, Pellicano insisted:

"There was no criminal enterprise or conspiracy. Mr. Pellicano alone is responsible. That is the simple truth," referring to himself in the third person as court rules require for people who act as their own attorney.

Can the third person go to jail for him as well?

John M. Hanamirian