As you all know David Copperfield is a famous American magician and illusionist. But that doesn’t mean his life is a piece of cake. Here is a part of his history.
On October 18, 2007, the website TMZ.com reported that David Copperfield was being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The raid reportedly stemmed from an ongoing case in Seattle. KTNV-TV Channel 13 in Las Vegas reported that 12 agents stormed a warehouse belonging to Copperfield. The agents seized a computer hard drive, a digital camera system and—according to early reports—nearly $US2 million ($2.25 million) in cash.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal printed a story confirming the raid at the warehouse in an investigation of possible sexual misconduct by the illusionist, citing a source with knowledge of the investigation.[12] Copperfield’s accuser, a 21-year-old Seattle woman, claimed she was raped, assaulted and threatened by Copperfield while alone with him on his private island in the Bahamas, described as a $50-million private retreat at Musha Cay, in a tiny string of white-sand islands 85 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas.[13] The young woman told Seattle police, and later the FBI, that Copperfield raped and struck her during her two days on the island, said sources familiar with her allegations. She said that, afterwards, Copperfield threatened her, telling her she’d better keep quiet, and then escorted her onto a plane.[13] A rape kit was assembled, and a federal source has confirmed that some of her clothing was taken into evidence.
The case is under the FBI’s jurisdiction because the accuser is a U.S. citizen and did not report the incident while staying in the Bahamas.[14]
Copperfield later issued a statement through his attorney denying all allegations of misconduct.
In November 2007, promoters sued Copperfield for nearly $2.2 million, after he pulled out of 48 shows in the face of rape claims. Filed November 6 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the breach of contract suit names Copperfield, his company and one of his attorneys.[15] The new lawsuit claims Copperfield backed out of a deal involving 10 performances in the United Arab Emirates and 38 shows in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore this autumn because he did not want to face questioning by reporters. An attorney for Copperfield said last month that the shows were cancelled after Asian tour operators defaulted on their contracts.
The lawsuit was filed by California-based Viva Art International Ltd. and Maz Concerts Inc. of Ontario. They claim they gave Copperfield approximately $2.2 million to cover his costs before he cancelled the shows.
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