Stallone to be key to wiretap case

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LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Sylvestor Stallone is expected to be a key witness in the government's wiretapping case against Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano.

The indictment handed down by a federal grand jury last week said an associate of the P.I. tried to access phone records belonging to a "Johnny Friendly," the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Johnny Friendly" was the name of the crooked union boss in the 1954 classic, "On the Waterfront," and is frequently used by Stallone when he travels, sources told the Times.

The indictment mentions Stallone by name elsewhere, saying his phone lines were wiretapped while he was involved in a lawsuit with a client of entertainment attorney Bert Fields, the Times said.

When asked for comment, the U.S. attorney's office would only say "Johnny Friendly" was a pseudonym, the newspaper said.

Stallone's spokeswoman's only comment was: "We have no comment."