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WAREHOUSE RAID: FBI investigating Copperfield

Famous illusionist accused of sexual misconduct

FBI agents raided the Las Vegas warehouse of magician David Copperfield on Wednesday in an investigation of possible sexual misconduct by the illusionist, a source with knowledge of the investigation said.

Copperfield's accuser said the misconduct occurred outside the country, but the case came under the FBI's jurisdiction because the accuser was a U.S. citizen, the source said.


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  • Copperfield's lawyer, David Chesnoff, confirmed Thursday his client was the subject of an investigation.

    "If in fact those are the allegations, unfortunately false allegations are all too often made against famous individuals," Chesnoff said. "But we are confident the investigation will conclude favorably."

    Agents from the FBI's Seattle office, who were heading the investigation, led the search of the warehouse on Russell Road near Valley View Boulevard. FBI agent David Staretz, spokesman for the Las Vegas office, confirmed "investigative activity" at the warehouse.

    The building serves as a rehearsal studio and prop storage warehouse and includes a second-floor apartment for the magician. It also houses Copperfield's career archives and a private museum for the 80,000-piece collection of magic memorabilia he has purchased over the years.

    Vintage posters, books and bric-a-brac -- such as a harness used in an illusion Orson Welles performed with Rita Hayworth for World War II bond drives -- are stored and maintained by a full-time curator in climate-controlled storage cases.

    Copperfield is fond of conducting midnight tours of the warehouse for small groups of guests. The tours are full of surprises, beginning with a "secret door" entry into the office and conference room -- through an exterior lobby decorated like a lingerie shop -- and culminating in an eerie seance-like special effect.

    By Thursday afternoon, gates to the warehouse were closed and locked. The only activity visible from the street involved about a dozen young men and women trickling out of the building, piling into cars and driving away.

    Copperfield has owned the warehouse since 1991 under one of his companies, Boy Magician Inc.

    The world-renowned performer anchors the schedule of the MGM Grand's 740-seat Hollywood Theatre, with other acts slotted around his show dates. He was scheduled to perform in Southeast Asia starting next week before returning to the MGM Grand in mid-November for a six-week stint.

    Despite his longtime Las Vegas ties, the magician never became a full-time headliner on the Strip, preferring to tour at least half the year to maintain his international appeal. He first headlined at Caesars Palace in 1984, and as his popularity spread through annual TV specials, the number of weeks he spent there increased each year until the casino's original showroom closed in 2000.

    His illusions include making the Statue of Liberty disappear and walking through the Great Wall of China.

    Review-Journal reporter Mike Weatherford and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0281.

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    Jane Streeter wrote on November 12, 2007 06:50 AM: Huh, I see no arguments or further comments...which just proves that when encouraged to actually THINK about issues, the readership can actually manage to do so.


    Jane Streeter wrote on November 09, 2007 12:18 PM: Hmmm...there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of open serious cases like murders, kidnappings, serious thefts, and the like, which the FBI would be well advised to focus their attentions on, rather than a case of harassment, which in most areas is a CIVIL not a FEDERAL court case. That said, understanding that the Feebies know that and probably weren't willingly involved, this smacks of Homeland Security involvement.

    Probably ordered the FBI to investigate so Homeland won't look like idiots in public...again. What Homeland Security doesn't seem to comprehend is that ANY agency initiated by Bush is automatically a public laughingstock and that moves like this are obvious.

    Please, let the FBI go do the jobs they're intended for and let local law enforcement handle things like this if they need to be handled through official channels at all. Failing that, DO IT YOURSELF. AFTER ALL, we already think HLS is populated with morons, so nothing you can do will make you seem less of one.

    As for Copperfield, if someone has a case or thinks they do and if there is a ruling that the US has jurisdiction on it, HELLO? Have them press charges or file against the man in open court...all this cloak and dagger stuff over a stage performer is idiotic beyond belief.

    Grow UP.


    raquel wrote on November 03, 2007 10:30 PM: good, another idiot celebrity, who cant tell common predicament


    maria wrote on October 30, 2007 01:32 PM: the system is so jacked up that authorities think that they can do what they want and when they want. That is why so many people get away with stupid crap is because they dont follow the rules.


    anonymous wrote on October 20, 2007 11:07 AM: Could it be the cash and the memorabilia that is the underlying motive for the fed's interest?


    douglas wrote on October 19, 2007 11:44 PM: so far, the stinkiest aspect of this alleged incident is that the "victim" waited some period of time before reporting it. and other than some scam to get a civil "settlement", why aren't the proceedings being conducted in the jurisdiction where it "happened" ?

    i'd guess that such a celeb could get most all the action, [more *** than a toilet seat], than he wanted without force.


    debbie wrote on October 19, 2007 09:36 PM: Hang in there david, Your fans are behind you always.You have given so much to us. we will give back with our prayers and support.


    Dave wrote on October 19, 2007 08:11 PM: So the FBI deals in rapes now,
    No need for metro.


    Alfred Olsen wrote on October 19, 2007 05:35 PM: Is this the same FBI that cannot issue arrest warrents for Joe Milanowski and Tom Hantges, the owners of USA Capital who STOLE almost $1 Billion dollars from their investors at least 1 year before April 12, 2006 their filing CH 11 and moving the funds offshore?

    In fact, Milanowski income last year exceeded $800K with assets of less than $1 million dollars according to court records.

    Why doesn't the FBI arrest a girl scout for jay walking? J. Edgar Hoover and Robert Kennedy must be turning over in their graves!!!!!

    They stole $224K of my IRA money in the Diversified Trust Deed Fund from me and I have yet to receive a single penny back. I spend 40 years of my life working on the weapons to defend our country and they just stle my retirement money.

    Alfred Olsen

    PS: I filed a complaint against them to the FBI, SEC, Nevada Secretary of State, Nevada Attorney General, Senator Reid witn no results.

    PPS: Don't give this information to John Edwards he does not know what is going on.


    Lee Yarbrough wrote on October 19, 2007 03:44 PM: Have to love the way people start judging and trying to bury a man when they know no facts at all.

    No wonder this country is what it has become. People need to look in their own homes before they start pointing fingers at others.


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