Miss Teen USA 'sextortion' suspect pleads guilty

Associated Press Tue Nov 12, 2013 4:02 PM

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A 19-year-old Southern California computer science student pleaded guilty Tuesday to hacking the computers of Miss Teen USA and other women and secretly photographing them with their own webcams.

Jared James Abrahams answered a series of questions from U.S. District Judge James Selna in an Orange County courtroom, including an explanation of the crimes that were committed.

"I hacked several girls' computers and, using their webcams, took photos of them when they weren't aware," Abrahams said meekly.

Abrahams pleaded guilty to three counts of extortion and one count of unauthorized access of a computer. He faces up to 11 years in prison and fines of up to $1 million when he's sentenced in March.

Over the past two years, Abrahams hacked into the computers of at least a dozen women in their late teens or early 20s from various states and countries, including Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf.

Court records say he also sent the women anonymous emails telling them he had downloaded nude photos of them. He told them he would publish the images on social media sites if they didn't send him additional pictures or undress for him. If the women complied, Abrahams promised to destroy the images.

At least two of his victims gave in to his demands, authorities said.

"Did you know you were extorting them when you made these demands?" Selna asked.

"Yes," Abrahams responded.

Dressed in matching gray pants and shirt with a black jacket, Abrahams told the judge he has autism and has been under treatment for the past 10 years. He said he was on three medications Tuesday, but he said they wouldn't affect his ability to enter a guilty plea.

Outside court, his attorney Alan Eisner said Abrahams apologizes for his actions. He said the autism played a contributing role in the scheme.

"The social disorder had, certainly, a part in it," Eisner said. "Again, I say that not to blame the conduct on anything, not to make an excuse for the conduct, but that's part of the full picture."

In Wolf's case, Abrahams was able to take nude photos of her without her knowledge, authorities said. He posted a naked photo of Wolf online after she didn't respond to him.

Abrahams and Wolf went to the same high school.

According to an FBI affidavit, Abrahams told Wolf: "Your dream of being a model will be transformed into a pornstar."

Wolf, also 19 and a graduate of Great Oak High School in Temecula, won the Miss Teen USA crown in August. She has spoken publically about the incident, saying she would use her fame to highlight cybercrime.

Abrahams is accused of employing similar hacking tactics used by a Florida man who was sentenced to 10 years in prison last year after he broke into the personal online accounts of Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera and other women and posted revealing photos and other material online.

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CEE LO GREEN Pleads Not Guilty To Ecstasy Charge

was charged with one count of “furnishing a controlled substance” to a woman that he dated in Los Angeles last year. Since then, he denied the allegations of being accused with sexual battery, in hopes of not facing up to four years in prison.

The rape charge against the singer was later rejected due to lack of evidence, but the case has yet to return to court on Nov. 20 for the drug bit of his case. Needless to say, he also just pleaded not guilty for giving out ecstasy.

Cee Lo previously admitted in an interview with celebrity news that he used to rob and beat people up. Perhaps, if he can be honest with his past, maybe there’s a small chance that he did not sexually assault the unidentified woman?

Oh well, let’s just wait and see how this turns out.

Do you think Cee Lo really did it? Post your opinions on the comments section below!

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TV pitchman pleads for mercy, jailed anyway

By Michael Tarm Associated Press Tue Oct 22, 2013 3:13 PM

CHICAGO — A federal judge rejected an impassioned plea from a television pitchman for his freedom on Tuesday, ordering U.S. Marshals to lock up Kevin Trudeau for failing to pay a $37 million civil judgment.

The visibly exasperated judge had already ordered that Trudeau be jailed during a hearing in Chicago when Trudeau stood up and asked if he could address the court. The Federal Trade Commission won the judgment after accusing Trudeau of hoodwinking viewers about his weight-loss books.

"There are no more assets to turn over, your honor," the 50-year-old Trudeau insisted during a 10-minute plea, at times striking a note of desperation. "I'm going to be incarcerated ... and I don't know what to do."

Judge Robert Gettleman seemed unimpressed.

"Thank you, Mr. Trudeau," he said flatly. "My order stands."

The judge then directed two marshals to lead Trudeau out of the courtroom and take him to a nearby jail.

Gettleman, like FTC lawyers, balked at Trudeau's insistence that he is penniless — noting that he recently spent hundreds of dollars on cigars and a haircut.

On Tuesday, Gettleman added that he has seen no sign Trudeau was cooperating to verify where he does and doesn't have assets.

"I haven't seen any new information, only resistance," Gettleman said. "This has to end."

The judge said the only way Trudeau would get the message "is to incarcerate him."

Gettleman didn't say how long Trudeau would have to remain behind bars. It will be until at least Thursday, when there's another status hearing scheduled in the case, Gettleman said.

The judge sent Trudeau to jail for one night last month, warning him at the time that he'd be sent back if he wasn't more forthcoming.

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Max Clifford Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Of Indecent Assault

Max Clifford Told The Media He Is Not Guilty Of The Charges Of Indecent Assault

When PR Consultant Max Clifford was arrested for 11 counts of indecent assault it sent shock waves around the celebrity world. The media was asking who could be next after one of the highest profile figures in the media world was arrested. Max Clifford said from day one he was innocent of the indecent assault charges and today the Public Relations Consultant stood up in court and pleaded not guilty while saying he intends to prove his innocence.

Max Clifford, 70, from Hersham Surrey, has always denied the charges which relate to seven alleged victims. The Public Relations Consultant whose job is to protect his celebrity clients and keep them out of the media for misbehaving has found himself in the spotlight over the charges of indecent assault which relate to alleged victims from the age of 14 to 19, which according to the prosecution happened between 1966 and 1985.

'Max Clifford Pleads Not Guilty To Indecent Assault Charges'

After pleading not guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault at Southwark Crown Court, the court set a date for a full trial for the 4th March 2014 where it is believed the trial will last around four weeks.

Max Clifford told the awaiting media before he gave his plea that he was totally innocent and planned to plead not guilty. He also said that he was grateful to the public for their support and planned to prove his innocence over the indecent assault charges.

The full list of offences relating to seven complainants against Max Clifford are:

   

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