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NORM: Figure in O.J. bust says he's legit

Thomas Riccio, whose tip to O.J. Simpson led to what authorities allege was armed robbery that could put O.J. behind bars, has a checkered past.

Riccio, an ex-con and well-known memorabilia dealer, has been in the headlines for selling Anna Nicole Smith's diaries for $500,000 and attempting to sell a video of Smith's breast enhancement surgery.

Two years ago, Riccio booked Simpson to sign memorabilia at the NecroComicon show in Los Angeles. The event was billed as a comic book convention but almost all of the featured attendees were actors known for their roles in horror and slasher films.

Riccio was quoted at the time as saying Simpson was "not getting a penny" for the three-day appearance, which included being paid $95 to pose for a photo or sign a T-shirt. For $125, he would autograph football jerseys and helmets.


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  • Alfred Beardsley, whom authorities describe as one of the victims of the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at Palace Station, described Riccio as "a real slimeball" in an interview with the New York Post.

    "Mr. Simpson was misled by this Mr. Riccio," Beardsley told the Post.

    Riccio told Geraldo Rivera of Fox News that he was being made to look like the fall guy.

    "I don't want to be 'the goon that set this whole thing up,'" Riccio told Rivera during an on-air appearance Saturday.

    "They're looking to pin it all on me because I'm an ex-con, but I've been clean since 1994, running a legit business," said Riccio, who was in Las Vegas on Friday, when the story broke.

    Riccio's Corona, Calif.-based Universal Rarities handled the eBay auction of Smith's handwritten diaries not long after the former Playboy playmate's death.

    Simpson was quoted as saying Riccio called him several weeks ago to tell him that people "have a lot of your stuff, and they don't want anyone to know they are selling it."

    Simpson was arrested Sunday on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit burglary and burglary with a firearm, police said.

    The NFL Hall of Fame running back was found not guilty in 1995 of the June 12, 1994, double slaying of former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ronald Goldman.

    One of the first things Las Vegas police did after the incident was view the surveillance tapes at Palace Station.

    O.J. AFTERMATH

    Simpson's stay at the Palms was causing some discomfort for owner George Maloof, who received a number of negative responses from people voicing dismay that Simpson was allowed to stay there.

    Maloof told me he is no fan of Simpson, has "never met him" and was unaware Simpson was going to be staying at the Palms.

    Simpson attracted a large crowd while hanging out at the Palms pool on Saturday. He was in town for a wedding at the Little White Chapel, best known for the 2004 quickie wedding of Britney Spears and childhood friend Jason Alexander.

    Meanwhile, I'm hearing that Station Casinos has discussed the possibility of turning the site of the armed robbery at Palace Station into "The O.J. Simpson Suite."

    THE SCENE AND HEARD

    Got photos or sightings of O.J. Simpson in Las Vegas over the weekend? Send 'em to norm@reviewjournal.com, and we'll post them on NormClarke.com, with photo credit.

    SIGHTINGS

    At Rao's in Caesars Palace over the weekend: Ray Romano and Brad Garrett and friends on Saturday and singer Jerry Vale on Friday night. ... Siegfried & Roy, getting a welcome worthy of royalty at the Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas on Saturday night for their ceremonial keg-tapping appearance to kick off Oktoberfest. They were greeted by chants from hundreds of fans who stood on tables to see the illusionists' entry. Siegfried and Roy had mugs of beer and shared pretzels and white sausages. ... Actress Gabrielle Union, dining Saturday at N9NE steakhouse in the Palms. Union later was seen partying at Tao nightclub in The Venetian. ... Rapper Nas and wife-singer Kelis, attending Saturday's 10 p.m. performance of "Love" at The Mirage. ... Actor Nick Cannon, partying Saturday at Tao nightclub.

    THE PUNCH LINE

    "101 Alibis For All Occasions." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Chapter Titles In O.J. Simpson's New Book

    Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.



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    Betty wrote on October 13, 2007 12:18 PM: And poor Anna Nicole Smith whose mother has also used her death as a money making machine. There should be a law against mother's like her. She didn't care about Anna when she was alive why care now, its because now they can profit off of it and when she put her business out there about her past I could have slapped her face off she is sickening I can't stand to even look at her. She is the definition of A GREEDY UNCARING MOTHER Who should be spit on for putting making money off of her deceased daughter by telling every bad thing that Anna may have went through in her life and these magazines and newspaper that pays for that garbage is ridiculous. Why publicize these parents that stoop so low as to use their childs death as a way to line there own pockets. If I lost a child the last thing I would want is for someone to sensationalize it in the media. I really respect Nicole Simpson's family because they want nothing to do with the book or anything else now that's how most people grieve the loss of a child the others need to let them rest in piece and get off the greedy train yet the media keeps them in the limelight feeding their need to be famous using their dead children to make themselves famous how sad is that? They should be ashamed I have no sympathy for them I just pray that there children are not looking down at them with disgust like others look at them. Haven't you made enough off of them why be greedy and drag them through dirt get a life thank God they are in a much better place.


    Betty wrote on October 13, 2007 12:03 PM: I can't help but ask why OJ Simpson still gets all of the news coverage that he does? All I hear is how no one wants anything to do with him yet he is all over the news repeatedly on the internet saying how he is not worth anything. Yet he is made out to be famous by all the publicity he continues to get. I cannot say he killed Nicole I don't think anyone on the jury could have said guilty not with the likes of racist Mark Furman and I don't believe a person should be tried twice if already found NOT GUILTY. The guy killed with Nicole his parents are money hungry its no longer about there son but about how much money they can make. Nicole's family wanted nothing to do with the book and I respect them for that. The other folks are looking for a dime that will not bring him back I couldn't make money from the death of my child it just shows you what there intent is and its not grief. They to are sensationalizing a man they believe killed their son how low must you be to make money at the expense of losing your son. Its a sad world we live in I hope they can live with theirselves they have become a joke.


    amer juicetice wrote on September 23, 2007 03:49 PM: Shhh-hear the tapp dancing?/ Its Chicago


    frankdatank wrote on September 18, 2007 09:10 AM: atleast someone had the balls to do something and maybe now oj will be locked away where he deserved to be for the last ten years


    lulu wrote on September 17, 2007 06:50 PM: Riccio did not attempt to sell the breast surgery video. He was offered it to purchase but did not buy it from what I uderstand. The sale of the diaries was part of his memorabilia company that he had for a long time, that is not a bad thing.


    Larry Pratt wrote on September 17, 2007 06:25 PM: Ode to OJ. Listen up pals.

    http://www.tommymarkham.com/Music/InTheJailhouseNow.htm


    JJ wrote on September 17, 2007 04:23 PM: Hey Norm,

    Before you go writing stories backed by zero sources, get yourself an eye. Maybe then you'll see the garbage you've put into this story. Riccio is the one good guy in this mess and if you took that patch off you'd see it.


    frank mook wrote on September 17, 2007 01:48 PM: Poor Norm,you wont be able to sniff Simpsons jock anymore


    JIM wrote on September 17, 2007 12:49 PM: Well, according to Beardsley this Ricco guy is "A real Slimeball." Seems like OJ likes to associate with people who have his same personality traits.