Alleged plot to extort Paula Deen exposed; FBI makes arrest

[TemplarKormac]

Embattled celebrity chef Paula Deen can now add being the target of an alleged extortion attempt to an already full plate of legal drama.

FBI officials announced Friday that they arrested Thomas Paculis, 62, in Newfield, N.Y., in connection with an extortion scheme targeting Deen. Paculis, who previously resided in Savannah and Augusta in Deen’s home state of Georgia, has been charged with attempting to extort Deen by requesting $250,000 in compensation in return for not releasing “true and damning” statements to the media made by Deen, according to a federal criminal complaint filed on June 24.

http://www.today.com/food/alleged-plot-extort-paula-deen-exposed-fbi-makes-arrest-6C10551940

And there you have it.

 

[daveman]

"...has been charged with attempting to extort Deen by requesting $250,000 in compensation in return for not releasing “true and damning” statements to the media made by Deen..."

That's what Jackson did. Only Jackson's lawyer delivered the message, so that makes it legal, I suppose.

 

[Rozman]

The lady suing Paula and this guy have the same goal....
One is doing it legally...but it's both pretty much the same in the end.

 

[waltky]

Is all her legal team's fault...

Paula Deen replaces legal team after racial slur admission prompts business deals to crumble
Jul 11, 2013 - Paula Deen dumps legal team after admitting slurs

Paula Deen has replaced her lead legal team, the latest fallout from her admission she used racial slurs in the past. Deen announced last week she had cut ties with her longtime agent who helped make her a Food Network star and start a media and merchandising empire that has largely collapsed. Grace Speights, an attorney for Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, has been retained as the new lead counsel for Paula Deen Enterprises Inc. and other defendants in an employment discrimination lawsuit, according to Jennifer Costa, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based firm.

Celebrity chef Paula Deen poses for a portrait in New York. Deen has replaced her lead legal team, the latest fallout from her admission she used racial slurs.

The lawsuit was filed by Lisa Jackson, who once worked as a manager at Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House, which Deen co-owns with her brother, Bubba Hiers. Jackson says she was sexually harassed and worked in an environment rife with racial slurs and innuendo. Asked in a deposition if she had ever used the N-word, Deen replied: "Yes, of course." But she also insisted "it's been a very long time." According to the Morgan Lewis website, Speights specializes in defending clients in employment discrimination cases and consulting clients on best practices in corporate diversity.

Court documents filed Thursday asked that all future documents in the case be sent to the Morgan Lewis & Bockius Law Firm and to the Weiner, Shearhouse, Weitz, Greenberg and Shawe law firm in Savannah. The Oliver Maner law firm and the Gillen Withers and Lake firm in Savannah had been representing Deen, Hiers and their businesses. Patricia Glaser, of the Los Angeles law firm Glaser Weil, told The Associated Press that Deen had also retained that firm as a general counsel and that it would be monitoring the case. Calls to each of the other law firms were not immediately returned.

Paula Deen replaces legal team after racial slur admission prompts business deals to crumble - 7/11/2013 1047 PM | Newser

 

[editec]

Embattled celebrity chef Paula Deen can now add being the target of an alleged extortion attempt to an already full plate of legal drama.

FBI officials announced Friday that they arrested Thomas Paculis, 62, in Newfield, N.Y., in connection with an extortion scheme targeting Deen. Paculis, who previously resided in Savannah and Augusta in Deen’s home state of Georgia, has been charged with attempting to extort Deen by requesting $250,000 in compensation in return for not releasing “true and damning” statements to the media made by Deen, according to a federal criminal complaint filed on June 24.

Alleged plot to extort Paula Deen exposed; FBI makes arrest - TODAY.com

And there you have it.

And there we have what, exactly?

Other than the news that somebody tried to shake down Paula Deen?

 

[LoneLaugher]

Embattled celebrity chef Paula Deen can now add being the target of an alleged extortion attempt to an already full plate of legal drama.

FBI officials announced Friday that they arrested Thomas Paculis, 62, in Newfield, N.Y., in connection with an extortion scheme targeting Deen. Paculis, who previously resided in Savannah and Augusta in Deen’s home state of Georgia, has been charged with attempting to extort Deen by requesting $250,000 in compensation in return for not releasing “true and damning” statements to the media made by Deen, according to a federal criminal complaint filed on June 24.

Alleged plot to extort Paula Deen exposed; FBI makes arrest - TODAY.com

And there you have it.

And there we have what, exactly?

Other than the news that somebody tried to shake down Paula Deen?

What's wrong? Your fantasyland bridge construction crew on holiday? The connection is clear. This new case is proof that anything that Deen may have done in the past is just part of the conspiracy to extort money from her

Duh!