F.B.I. Releases Michael Jackson Files
The FBI has released more than 300 pages of formerly classified documents relating to pop icon Michael Jackson. They include information regarding the singer's 1993 and 2004 child molestation cases, as well as an extortion case where he was a victim.
The records include numerous threatening letters sent by the suspect, who the FBI said had falsely claimed to be the son of then-Gambino crime boss John Gotti and was initially ruled mentally incompetent to go to trial.
The suspect, whose name was concealed in the heavily redacted FBI records, eventually pleaded guilty to a federal charge of mailing a threatening communication and was sentenced to two years in prison, the FBI said.
The files, however, included newspaper clippings about the case that identified the man as Frank Paul Jones, a 34-year-old fan obsessed with Jackson's sister, singer Janet Jackson.
According to news accounts at the time, the New York man had been arrested at the White House for an attempted illegal entry, and was arrested a month later on the grounds of the Jacksons' parents home in Los Angeles.
The files, made public in response to requests under the federal Freedom of Information Act, also reveal the FBI's role in assisting California police in investigating child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson, who died in June at age 50.
The first case in 1993 was closed without authorities bringing charges against Jackson, who ultimately settled a related civil action for more than $20 million. In 2005 a jury acquitted Jackson of molestation charges in a separate case.
[Michael Jackson FBI Files' pictures From Reuters]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed! You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.Or follow us on Twitter.
