FBI Shows David Copperfield (David Kotkin) Having Money Is Only An Illusion? Nadege Brunacci Learns A Python In A Toilet Is Real? Update 10-30

Legal Pub notes that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish illusions from reality. Judges routinely peer through smoke screens to get to the heart of the legal issues. For the rest of society it is not much different. For example, FBI agents allegedly are investigating a claim of sexual misconduct by Copperfield arising out of an incident that supposedly happened in the Bahamas. The FBI reportedly seized nearly $2 million from Copperfield's Las Vegas warehouse. (How could this be relevant to sexual misconduct? The FBI denies seizing any cash.) Illusionist David Copperfield, like Legal Pub, has to wonder why! The FBI also took a computer hard drive and a memory chip from a digital camera. Again, the investigation apparently originates from an investigation arising out of a complaint by a Seattle woman concerning an incident in the Bahamas. If the allegation is rape, why are the computer hard drive, memory stick and the CASH relevant. (Could this so called investigation be related to Operation Raw Deal and the distribution of steroids? After all, Copperfield looks pretty buff for a magician, but our friends from the muscle sites would probably say he has "no legs." While anything is theoretically possible, it is not likely in the case of Copperfield.)

Copperfield's attorney, David Chesnoff shed little light on the subject. "We understand there is an investigation, are in touch with the investigators, and are respecting the confidentiality of the investigation." CBS affiliate KLAS-TV quoted a source indicating that the cash was in a safe. (Is that illegal? In this day of the Ponytail Bandit, Tree Bandit, the Barbie Bandits and even the Koziks allegedly robbing banks, is it unreasonable to want to keep your cash safe in your own vault?)

David Kotkin, (Copperfield) is 51. He has made a fortune in exchange for stunts such as making the Statue of Liberty disappear and walking through the Great Wall of China. He is a regular at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas. A couple million dollars in cash for him may be like a couple hundred of dollars for the rest of us. Perhaps it was just an illusion of a lot of cash. Perhaps the reports were wrong and no cash was ever seized by the FBI. The Guinness Book of World Records has calculated that Copperfield has sold more tickets in his career than any other solo entertainer. Copperfield is also the most awarded magician in history and the first living magician to receive a star on the Hollywood 'Walk of Fame'. If he does have money, chances are he earned it.

Update 10-20: Again, on what authority do you confiscate the money? Was it faulty initial reporting? Was it just an illusion created in or by the medial. Or is it some how possible that it could involve the fountain of youth formula that Copperfield claims he found on his Island near the Bahamas? Unlikely, but read the quote from Copperfield from an interview. DC: "...We found this liquid that in it's simple stages can actually do miraculous things, brown leaves turn green... Yeah. It is natural. Simple organisms that are near death are rejuvenated. So we don't know about the effects on humans, but we are doing research and development. That is on one of the islands. On the islands around the area, I am checking them to protect them and on one of the islands happens to be a resort. It's available for charter... It is really spectacular."
Does it sound like HGH to anyone else? See Legal Pub 9-25-07 Operation Raw Deal Story. Probably just an illusion or a sales pitch. But if true, could it justify seizing cash? The FBI says no cash was siezed. Copperfield is silent on the subject.
Update 10-30: Grand Jury testimony has supposedly revealed that a 21 year old victim has accused Copperfield of selecting her from the audience and enticing her to go to his Bahama Island to enhance her acting/modeling career. The 51 year old Copperfield is then accused of making her clothes and inhibitions disappear without her consent. Legal Pub remains sceptical. It is doubtful that Copperfield lacks consensual female attention given his popularity and wealth.

Nadege Brunacci

On the other hand, for Nadege Brunacci, a 7-foot-long python in her toilet was no illusion. The New York woman was washing her hands Monday when she saw a slithering python peeking out from her toilet. Most of the serpent's body remained hidden in the pipes. "I turned on the light and screamed," Brunacci is quoted as saying in the New York Daily News. Brunacci apparently slammed down the lid and called for help. Plumbers had to tear apart the apartment's pipes to capture the snake. It's unclear how the Python got into the pipes. (A flushed pet?)

Brunacci says she started using her daughter's potty training toilet and when she brushes her teeth she is always looking over her shoulder. (Ah yes, we regress...)

Update 12-18-10: Due to improper spamming, comment on this thread must be preapproved by sending them to legalpub@legalpub.net.