Hollywood P.I. indicted on federal charges

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano Monday pleaded not guilty to a 110-count federal indictment charging him with spying on celebrities and others.

A three-year FBI investigation culminated with the unsealing of indictments in Los Angeles charging Pellicano and six other people with racketeering and conspiracy, the Los Angeles Times reported. The group allegedly hacked into private computer files, committed wire fraud, bribery, identity theft and obstruction of justice, federal prosecutors charge.

Pellicano, 61, was popular among lawyers and talent agencies and and represented a number of celebrities including Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Sylvester Stallone, the Times said.

The indictment claims Pellicano and his alleged associates used wiretaps to spy on Stallone and accessed confidential records to get information on people such as comics Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon, New York Times reporter Bernard Weinraub and former Los Angeles Times reporter Anita Busch.

The investigation was launched back in 2002 when Busch found a dead fish, a rose and a sign saying "Stop" on the hood of her car, the Times said.

An informant told investigators Pellicano paid him to harass the journalist and the private eye still faces state charges for the alleged threat against Busch, the Times said.