Two Men Indicted on Charges of Illegally Recording Michael Jackson & Attorney on XtraJet Aircraft

Sep. 22, 2005 - Two air service businessmen were indicted on federal charges of secretly recording Michael Jackson two years ago as he flew to Santa Barbara with his attorney to surrender to Santa Barbara authorities.
Jeffrey Borer and Arvel Jett Reeves used two digital camcorders and remote microphones to record “a professional entertainer and his attorney” as the pair traveled on a private jet from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara in November 2003, according to a three-count indictment filed Wednesday.

The two were charged with conspiracy, endeavoring to intercept oral communication and witness tampering in an alleged scheme between Nov. 19, 2003 and Nov. 21, 2003.

The entertainer they recorded was Michael Jackson, said a source familiar with the case who asked not to be identified because Jackson is not cited by name in the indictment.

Attorney Mark Geragos, who had represented Jackson at the time, did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday seeking comment. A phone call to Jackson’s spokeswoman, Raymone K. Bain, also was not returned.

Borer was the owner of XtraJet, which operated a Gulfstream jet that carried Jackson. Reeves was the owner of Executive Aviation Logistics, which provided maintenance service for XtraJet’s aircraft fleet.

The allegations that Jackson was taped aboard a flight on Nov. 20, 2003, were widely reported at the time. In a lawsuit filed against XtraJet days after the flight, Geragos claimed the charter company covertly installed two cameras in the cabin of the plane.

Xtrajet officials gave the tape to the FBI soon after it was found, and a judge ordered the company not to make or distribute copies. Xtrajet’s attorney said at the time that company officials didn’t know who was responsible for making the tape.

Geragos complained at the time that the action violated attorney-client privilege in (Mr. Jackson’s) case. In June, a jury acquitted Jackson of all charges.

According to the indictment, Reeves purchased the video and audio equipment from three electronics stores in San Bernardino County and, with another suspect, secretly installed the equipment in a concealed part of the airplane’s cabin. The indictment did not identify the other suspect, listed as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The microphones were allegedly installed between passenger seat cushions.

Borer instructed Reeves to obtain and install the equipment and later contacted news companies and offered to sell the recordings, the indictment said.

In April 2004, according to the indictment, Reeves told a suspect to lie to FBI agents by saying that the video equipment was installed in an attempt to catch someone who had been stealing alcohol from the aircraft.

Source: AP / MJJsource

Legendary R&B singer/songwriter Willie Hutch, the Motown veteran who co-wrote “I’ll Be There” for the Jackson 5, has died at his home in Dallas, Texas, reports WREG-TV Memphis. He was 59. The cause of death has not yet been released.

Born Willie McKinley Hutchinson in 1946 in Los Angeles, Hutch grew up in Dallas, where his debut single “Love Has Put Me Down” was released in the early sixties. After putting out his first album in 1964, the artist went on to work with a number of artists as a writer and producer.

In 1970, producer Hal Davis called Hutch at the 11th hour to write a song for a backing track he had produced for the Jackson 5. The Michael Jackson-led group reportedly went into the studio the next day to record Hutch’s words on the track, which turned out to be one of the group’s biggest hits, “I’ll Be There.”

Hutch went on to write and/or produce solo albums for Jackson, as well as Smokey Robinson, The Fifth Dimension, The Miracles, The Main Ingredient (“California My Way”), Junior Walker, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, among others.

Source: Black Entertainment

Wearing a plastic apron and gloves, Joseph Jackson adjusted his paper food service hat and served barbecue pork to a line of evacuees at Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday afternoon..

Jackson, the father of pop singer Michael Jackson, also autographed papers, arms and shirts and listened to evacuees’ stories while walking around the shelter.

“It’s a terrible thing that happened,” Jackson said. “I saw that they needed help. Fans from all over the world see that I’m helping and they help, too.”

Jackson said he decided to help in Corpus Christi on the recommendation of his son’s international fan club president, Corpus Christi resident Deborah Dannelly,

Dannelly said costs of the lunch, served to more than 100 evacuees, was shared by Jackson and the fan club. They also shared costs for a catered dinner at Annaville Baptist Church shelter Tuesday evening.

While some evacuees sought Jackson’s autograph, others questioned the purpose of his visit.

“Who’s Joe Jackson? What’s he doing here?” said Gloria Louis, 43, who had been staying at the coliseum for 16 days. “I think he’s a little too late.”

Elisker Johnson, 53, said she wasn’t sure why Jackson was at the coliseum, but she had him sign the back of her shirt.

“I’m a fan,” Johnson said.

Source: C

Pop superstar Michael Jackson has been asked to record a duet with Irish boyband Westlife next year.

The Thriller singer was acquitted of child molestation charges in June and his since sought sanctuary in the Middle East with his friend Prince Abdulla, the son of the King of Bahrain.

But the 47-year-old is keen to return to the spotlight and has already recruited a galaxy of stars to appear on a charity record to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The group’s manager Louis Walsh says: “Michael Jackson is an inspiration and we are approaching him.

“The boys have sung with Diana Ross and Mariah Carey on their new album. So we thought: ‘Who next?’ Jackson would be great.”

Source: FemaleFirst.co.uk

…Exclusive MJ hopes sincerley NOT! (but that’s just our opinion

The Essential Michael Jackson falls 15 places to #55 in the UK album chart.

Source: MJ.INF

In his first talk with a reporter since the end of his criminal trial, pop superstar Michael Jackson said Saturday he is “moving full speed ahead” on plans to record a song for the benefit of Hurricane Katrina victims and feels that his creative juices are flowing again.

In a telephone call to The Associated Press, Jackson said the trial was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life” and that he and his children were still in Bahrain “resting and recovering” from the ordeal.

Jackson said he has been at work on the charity song, tentatively titled, “From the Bottom of My Heart.”

“I’m constantly working on it,” he said.

Also on the line was Raymone K. Bain, Jackson’s spokeswoman. She said the call would not be a full-fledged interview, and that Jackson just wanted to make contact to express his thanks for what he said was the AP’s fair coverage of his trial.

Jackson has been staying in Bahrain as the guest of Prince Abdulla, the son of the king of Bahrain. Of his friend Prince Abdulla, he said, “He’s the very best, amazing, so kind.”

Asked about his health, Jackson said, “I’m feeling good.” The singer had said during his trial that he was plagued by back problems.

Jackson was acquitted of child molestation in June after a five-month trial in Santa Maria, Calif. He has not appeared in public since and has spent much of his time in Bahrain.

Jackson wants the charity anthem to follow the success of the 1984 worldwide hit “We Are the World,” which he co-wrote to benefit African starvation victims. Bain has said many artists have agreed to join the project, but the lineup hasn’t been finalized.

Source: Associated Press

Mr. Joseph Jackson, patriarch of the Jackson family, will be visiting
evacuees who have been relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas. He will arrive on
September 19 and depart on September 21.

Mr. Jackson, himself familiar with the hardships faced by attempting to
support a young family during difficult times, was especially moved by the
situation faced by families displaced by hurricane Katrina. Because the
Michael Jackson Fan Club is based in Corpus Christi, Texas, and this
organization is experienced in hosting large events, Mr. Jackson chose to
visit this particular group.

The MJFC and Mike Bradle of the American Response Team will be hosting Mr.
Jackson’s visit, beginning with his arrival at the Corpus Christi airport at
6:23 p.m. on September 19.

Mr. Jackson will be supplying lunch and will meet with the 300 + evacuees at
the Memorial Coliseum at noon, September 20.

At 6:00pm that evening, a catered 3 course dinner will be provided to the
evacuees at the Annaville Baptist Church. Mr. Jackson will have the
opportunity to share in this communal meal and speak with them on a more
personal level.

Members of the MJFC community are welcome to visit with Mr. Jackson at the
Memorial Coliseum or at the Annaville Baptist Church

Source: MJFC

By Roger Friedman

Sources are claiming that Michael Jackson has returned to New York.

He may have sneaked back in the last couple of days. His point of alighting
would be the Palace Hotel on Madison Avenue.

His kids may have preceded him to the U.S. Sources say their nanny, Grace
Rwarmba, was spotted in California two weeks ago.

Jackson thinks he’s putting together an all-star charity single for the
survivors of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Whether or not that’s
possible remains to be seen.

Jackson’s benefactor, Bahrain’s Sheik Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is said
to be traveling with him and picking up the bill wherever they go. I’m told
that Jackson recently settled a lot of unpaid bills, including a big one
with his former attorney John Branca.

If Jackson is in town and wants to record, he’ll be doing it most likely
with his old team: Brad Buxer, Michael Prince, and Bruce Swedien at the
controls.

Where he’ll do it is a better question. The Hit Factory is history, and
Jackson certainly won’t be renting Sony Studios any time soon - unless of
course he thinks he can get a deal there.

This would be the first time in his long career that Michael has no
recording contract with a major label, one that would foot the bills upfront
for his various indulgences.

Meanwhile, Jackson’s arch-enemy, Diane Dimond , was seen around the offices
of Paramount’s syndicated show “The Insider’ the other day. The word is she
may wind up freelancing there now that her Court TV gig is up.

Those with sharp memories will recall that Dimond’s original Jackson assault
in 1993 was on Paramount’s “Hard Copy.” Linda Bell Blue, that show’s
producer, now runs “The Insider.”

Source: FOX News

The attorney who successfully defended Michael Jackson against child molestation charges said Tuesday he will represent a Nation of Islam leader for free if the man is charged as the result of a confrontation with police officers last month.

Minister Tony Muhammad said he was beaten by police during an Aug. 25 prayer vigil for a shooting victim. Authorities have said Muhammad was wrestled him to the ground and handcuffed after he became “belligerent and uncooperative” when he was asked to move two vehicles blocking traffic.

Attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. said his own investigation, including interviews with witnesses, determined Muhammad was assaulted.

“I was immediately appalled at what I learned,” Mesereau told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “Inexperienced officers with the LAPD drove to the scene and started to abuse Minister Muhammad.”

Mesereau said he would represent Muhammad, the Nation of Islam’s western regional director, without charge.

Police Chief William Bratton said Tuesday the city attorney’s office is expected to decide in about two weeks whether to charge Muhammad. If he is charged, Bratton said it would likely be with interfering with police, a misdemeanor.

A transcript of the incident released by police showed that when an officer asked Muhammad to “back up,” he twice responded, “Make me.”

Community activist Danny Bakewell said the transcript only shows Muhammad was demanding officers respect his constitutional right to free assembly.

Source: Associated Press

Michael Jackson’s publicist says eight performers so far have agreed to join a song to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.

Raymone K. Bain said artists who will appear on Jackson’s song, tentatively titled “From the Bottom of My Heart,” include James Brown, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Lenny Kravitz, R. Kelly, Snoop Dogg and Ciara.

But representatives for some of the artists said it was premature to say their clients were committed to the charity single, which hopes to duplicate the 1984 worldwide hit “We Are the World,” which Jackson co-wrote to benefit African starvation victims.

Representatives for Snoop Dogg said he would take part. But Jay-Z’s publicist, Jana Fleishman, said the rapper had “been approached, but Jay told me directly he is not yet confirmed to be on that song.” Several other publicists said their clients were in talks and had yet to confirm.

Bain, however, insisted during a telephone interview Wednesday that Jackson had personally contacted all the artists himself. She said Jackson will record the tune on 2 Seas Records, the label owned by Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of the king of Bahrain. Jackson, who was acquitted after a grueling child molestation trial four months ago, has been a guest of Sheik Abdulla for the past several weeks.

To confirm her account, Bain handed the phone to Sheik Abdulla, who said that he and Jackson had had talked to each artist personally. “He made every single call himself,” the sheik said.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Jackson tried unsuccessfully to put together a benefit song called “What More Can I Give.”

For now, Bain said, the Katrina relief song is “a work in progress,” with a time, date and place of recording yet to be scheduled.

Source: Yahoo