LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Paris Hilton is not the only recent celebrity victim of jewelry theft – this time, thieves have gone after items belonging to Queen Latifah.
Queen Latifah, whose real name is Dana Owens, had more than $10,000 worth of jewelry reportedly stolen from her luxury villa in Tobago, an island resort in the Caribbean, according to the local paper, Trinidad and Tobago’s Newsday.
Two gold rings, a gold chain and a silver ring were allegedly taken from singer’s $1,000-a-night villa.
Tobago police told the paper they believe a staff member committed the theft. Local police have also reportedly questioned several employees of Stone Haven Villas.
“Several searches are being carried out and the police are trying to have the jewelry returned to Queen Latifah. Investigators said the larceny seems to be an inside job and efforts are being made round the clock to make a breakthrough,” acting Police Commissioner James Philbert told the paper.
According to the paper, the singer said the missing jewelry held sentimental value to her and she is willing to offer a reward for its return.
Queen Latifah arrived in Tobago last week for the Christmas holiday and is scheduled to leave the island resort today.
WOBURN, Mass. --
The half brother of comedian Dane Cook has pleaded not guilty to embezzling millions from the comedian and ordered held on $3 million bail.
Darryl McCauley was arraigned Wednesday at Woburn District Court on charges including forgery and larceny. Prosecutors alleged that McCauley, 43, stole the money from Cook while being paid $12,500 a month to act as Cook’s business manager as part of his company, Great Dane Enterprises, Inc.
Judge Joseph Jennings ordered McCauley to document the source of any funds used to meet his bail.
Cook’s attorney, Joseph Zwicker, described Cook as “very distraught” about the situation. McCauley’s attorney, Robert Goldstein, said his client is innocent.
“Mr. McCauley denies taking money from his brother without his consent,” he said. “He’s ready to confront these allegations.”
Prosecutors accused McCauley of transferring funds from Cook’s business accounts to his personal accounts between July 2007 and December 2008. In one instance, McCauley forged a $3 million check written from Cook’s account to himself, investigators said.
McCauley allegedly used the money to buy four cars, and to take a seven-day trip across the country, during which he rented various cars. Prosecutors say investigators raided a Maine home McCauley owned and found $800,000 in cash in a safe.
Cook, 36, suspected his brother was stealing from him for some time, prosecutors said. He recently hired a new business manager in California and had been pressuring McCauley to hand over documents. Assistant Attorney General Rick Grundy said investigators were recently tipped off to the scheme by Cook’s attorney.
Cook’s comedy album, “Retaliation,” went double platinum. He has recently appeared in several films, including “My Best Friend’s Girl” with Kate Hudson.
ATLANTA, Ga. --
A letter from Oprah Winfrey last week seemed like the world’s best Christmas present — until teacher Ron Clark noticed an extra piece of paper flutter out of the envelope.
That’s when the Atlanta educator saw the $365,000 check for the innovative private school he opened in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods in 2007. It was, quite literally, an answer to a prayer.
“We teach school all day and fundraise at night,” said Clark, who finds private donors to pay most of the $14,000 annual tuition for each student. “To have an unsolicited gift come like that is
incredible.”
Clark surprised his students with the news of the donation Wednesday morning in a gathering at the south Atlanta school. The children, parents and teachers erupted in deafening cheers when he showed off the check.
Several cried at the news.
“Everything they learn is enhanced because of the teachers’ dedication and creativity,” said a tearful Gloria Nesmith, whose son, Cameron, is a fifth-grader at the academy. “And Oprah noticed. I’m just overwhelmed.”
The donation, which likely will go to scholarships for students, would pay for 26 children to attend the school for one year, Clark said. The 80-student middle school depends almost entirely on donations to operate.
In her letter, to Clark, Winfrey calls him a role model and applauds the “profound difference you’re making with your passion for teaching.”
The check was issued by the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, which gave $4 million to educational programs in 2008, said foundation executive director Caren Yanis.
Clark and his students became overnight stars during the presidential election when a video of the students performing a political rap they wrote grabbed the public’s attention on YouTube. The children ended up performing the rap, called “Vote However U Like,” on national TV shows including CNN and BET.
Teachers at the school frequently use rapping, dancing and drumming to help students learn.
Clark, who taught in one of New York City’s toughest schools and wrote the best-selling teaching book “The Essential 55,” opened the school last year with proceeds from his book and private donations.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
“Hairspray” star Nikki Blonsky and former “America’s Next Top Model” contestant Bianca Golden will not have a personal showdown – at least not in the courtroom.
The actress and aspiring model have been cleared of all charges resulting from the July 29 Providenciales International Airport brawl that included Nikki’s father, Carl Blonsky, and Bianca’s mother, Elaine Golden, E! Online reported.
“The cases against Nikki Blonsky and Bianca Golden have been dropped,” Turks and Caicos Police Sgt. Calvin Chase told E!.
“The only case that is still proceeding is against [Blonsky’s] father,” Sgt. Chase added.
Police did not disclose why the charges against Nikki and Bianca had been dropped.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Carl Blonsky pled not guilty to his charge of grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum punishment of five years.
Following the airport brawl, Elaine Golden was airlifted to a Florida intensive care unit. She suffered a cracked skull and broken nose.