Fallon
09-06-2002, 08:37 PM
<b>E! Online</b> The reporters who dished about the Mafia extorting money from Steven Seagal are apparently getting a little more action than they bargained for.
Scribes from Vanity Fair and the Los Angeles Times both claim to have received Sopranos-esque threats after publishing stories on the case, which involved the action star and Julius Nasso, his former producer.
Dead fish, broken windows and other intimidation tactics seem to indicate that the Mob is none too happy about the journalists' coverage of Nasso's $60 million lawsuit against the actor, Seagal's ensuing accusations of bribery, and Nasso's subsequent federal indictment for extortion.
Ned Zeman, who penned an account of the case in the October issue of Vanity Fair, said a motorist pulled a gun on him August 28 and ordered him to "Stop." In June, Anita Busch of the Times said her car windshield was smashed, and she discovered a dead fish and rose under a roasting pan on her car's hood along with a note with the same message.
The LAPD ( news - web sites)'s organized crime division is investigating both incidents. Officials said there is currently no link between the attacks, and the investigations are being conducted separately. Both journalists have been advised to take security precautions.
Reps from both publications tell the Associated Press they are taking that advice to heart and have taken action to protect their own.
"After discussions with law enforcement, we took the measures recommended to ensure the safety of our reporter," says David Garcia, a Los Angeles Times spokesman.
Vanity Fair spokeswoman Beth Kseniak says, "We are taking the threat seriously, and we're taking security precautions."
Seagal's camp is also keeping a close eye on the action star, who's currently in Los Angeles working on his upcoming flick Half Past Dead. His attorney says Seagal has been in touch with the cops about the attacks and that Seagal "does not travel alone, let's put it that way."
Indeed, it seems everyone who has been involved in this whole mess has been on edge since it started. Nasso issued the first salvo against the movie tough guy in March when he sued Seagal for backing out of a deal to star in four films. The Hard to Kill star countered with allegations he was bullied by the Mob after cutting ties with Nasso, an alleged member of the Gambino crime family. Nasso was eventually arrested in June on federal charges of extortion. Following his arraignment, Nasso pleaded guilty and was released on $1.5 million bail. He is waiting for his case to be prosecuted.
Up next for Seagal is the November release of Half Past Dead, where the 51-year-old actor plays an undercover FBI ( news - web sites) agent. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=796&e=18&u=/eo/20020906/en_celeb_eo/10497
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Scribes from Vanity Fair and the Los Angeles Times both claim to have received Sopranos-esque threats after publishing stories on the case, which involved the action star and Julius Nasso, his former producer.
Dead fish, broken windows and other intimidation tactics seem to indicate that the Mob is none too happy about the journalists' coverage of Nasso's $60 million lawsuit against the actor, Seagal's ensuing accusations of bribery, and Nasso's subsequent federal indictment for extortion.
Ned Zeman, who penned an account of the case in the October issue of Vanity Fair, said a motorist pulled a gun on him August 28 and ordered him to "Stop." In June, Anita Busch of the Times said her car windshield was smashed, and she discovered a dead fish and rose under a roasting pan on her car's hood along with a note with the same message.
The LAPD ( news - web sites)'s organized crime division is investigating both incidents. Officials said there is currently no link between the attacks, and the investigations are being conducted separately. Both journalists have been advised to take security precautions.
Reps from both publications tell the Associated Press they are taking that advice to heart and have taken action to protect their own.
"After discussions with law enforcement, we took the measures recommended to ensure the safety of our reporter," says David Garcia, a Los Angeles Times spokesman.
Vanity Fair spokeswoman Beth Kseniak says, "We are taking the threat seriously, and we're taking security precautions."
Seagal's camp is also keeping a close eye on the action star, who's currently in Los Angeles working on his upcoming flick Half Past Dead. His attorney says Seagal has been in touch with the cops about the attacks and that Seagal "does not travel alone, let's put it that way."
Indeed, it seems everyone who has been involved in this whole mess has been on edge since it started. Nasso issued the first salvo against the movie tough guy in March when he sued Seagal for backing out of a deal to star in four films. The Hard to Kill star countered with allegations he was bullied by the Mob after cutting ties with Nasso, an alleged member of the Gambino crime family. Nasso was eventually arrested in June on federal charges of extortion. Following his arraignment, Nasso pleaded guilty and was released on $1.5 million bail. He is waiting for his case to be prosecuted.
Up next for Seagal is the November release of Half Past Dead, where the 51-year-old actor plays an undercover FBI ( news - web sites) agent. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=796&e=18&u=/eo/20020906/en_celeb_eo/10497
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