by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright November 26, 2002
All Rights Reserved.

wamping the headlines, Hollywood action star Steven Seagal was allegedly fingered by 59-year-old ex-convict Alexander Proctor for hiring celebrity private eye Anthony Pellicano to intimidate Los Angeles Times reporter Anita M. Busch. Writing about an extortion plot by Seagal's former business partner Julius Nasso, Busch received a bullet hole in her windshield, a dead fish and rose on her hood, and cardboard note saying "Stop"—classic mafia style MO. Nasso, who lives in Staten Island, NY and reportedly has ties to the Gambino crime family, faces a January trial in Brooklyn's U.S.District court for extortion against Seagal. Proctor told a police informant that he was hired by Pellicano to intimidate Busch, though the motives remain murky. "This is part of an unrelenting campaign to disparage Mr. Seagal and reads like a bad screenplay," said Seagal's attorney Martin B. Pollner, finding no credible reason why Seagal would want to intimidate a Times reporter.

      Pollner dismissed the idea that Seagal would do business with Pellicano, stating "that Mr. Pellicano and Mr. Seagal aren't even on speaking terms," after the celebrity sleuth was retained by an unnamed client in a civil matter against Seagal. Busch speculated that the vandalism was due to her investigative work illuminating Nasso's underworld connections. Federal authorities have linked Nasso to New York's "good fellas" in an apparent plot to extort money from Seagal after their partnership, Seagal-Nasso Productions, fell apart in 2000. With Seagal scheduled to testify in mid-January, Nasso's New York attorney filed a document implicating Seagal in threatening a Los Angeles Times reporter. Yet the informant told the FBI that Proctor, who committed the vandalism against Busch, was working for "guys back East." Back on July 3, the same informant told the FBI that Proctor conducted the vandalism for Seagal.

      According to Proctor, malicious mischief wasn't the original plan. He admitted that he was supposed to blow up Busch's car, but changed plans. Operating on a search warrant, the FBI gutted Pellicano's West Hollywood offices and seized two hand grenades and plastic explosives "consistent with military C-4," the most common explosive used by Mideast terrorists. Donald Re, Pellicano's attorney, said his client had a "legitimate reason" for possessing explosives and denied he plotted to intimidate Anita Busch. Re indicated Pellicano simply forgot he stashed the C-4 and hand grenades in his safe, despite suggestions by Proctor that the original plan involved blowing up Busch's car. Pellicano, whose motto is "When retained, your problem becomes my problem," had trouble explaining why he possessed dangerous explosives. Federal agents were especially concerned about how practice grenades were modified into explosive devices.

      FBI agents also found $150,000 in cash, wrapped in 15, $10,000 bundles. Legitimate businesses don't stockpile massive quantities of cash, typically used to pay for under-the-table services. While Pellicano's book of business reads like a veritable "who's who in Hollywood," it doesn't mean he wasn't retained by the mob to discredit the former martial arts teacher turned Hollywood action hero. Seagal had no motive to intimidate a Times reporter—but Nasso did. Facing serious criminal charges in January, it only makes sense that Nasso wanted to discredit Seagal—the prosecution's star witness—before taking the stand against him in mid-January. Though Seagal's concerned about negative publicity, Nasso's in the hot seat, calling into question Proctor's unfounded charge that Seagal hired Pellicano.

      Though Pellicano denies involvement, Proctor indicated that he's worked with him in the past. In court documents, Proctor's "payment" reportedly involved forgiving a $15,000 debt incurred at an earlier time. Beyond uncorroborated reports by Proctor, Pellicano's possession of live grenades and C-4 explosives landed him in the slammer. In a post Sept. 11 atmosphere, authorities can't buy the same tired explanations without thorough investigation, especially Proctor's admission he originally intended to blow up Busch's car. Also troubling authorities are Pellicano's own words describing his work. "I always start out as a gentleman. I only use intimidation and fear when I absolutely have to," supporting Proctor's claim that the Anita Busch incident wasn't outside Pellicano's tactics. Authorities must now weigh the credibility of ex-convicts against Pellicano's neatly crafted denials.

      When Seagal dissolved Seagal-Nasso Productions two years ago, Nasso slapped Seagal with a $60 million breach of contract suit. Court records in Staten Island indicate that Nasso was recorded speaking to a local mob boss about extorting $150,000 per film from "an entertainment figure." Facing extortion charges in federal court, it seems that Nasso planned some cryptic public relations. Before taking the stand, he sought to impeach Seagal's credibility, tying him to a plot to intimidate a Los Angeles Times reporter. Nasso's plan backfired when the FBI taped Proctor admitting he terrorized reporter Anita Busch for "Anthony, a big investigator in Los Angeles." FBI documents confirm Protor's admission. Connecting the dots, it appears logical that Nasso hired Pellicano to implicate Seagal before he took the witness stand in mid-January. Little did he know that Proctor would sing like a canary and point fingers back East, implicating Nasso and the mob.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's a consultant and expert in strategic communication. He's author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

©1999-2002 Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.
(310) 204-8300
All Rights Reserved.