Another possible Pellicano witness pleads

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- The number of defendants pleading guilty in the Anthony Pellicano case is up to five and could be leading to more trouble for the Hollywood private eye.

Beverly Hills, Calif., businessman Daniel Nicherie was the latest to come clean before a judge, pleading guilty to money-laundering and fraud charges.

A law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times that Nicherie's plea in federal court Tuesday could make him another witness to back up the prosecution's allegation that Pellicano engaged in illegal wiretapping on behalf of his upscale Los Angeles clients.

"If you start adding up the number of people who have pleaded guilty to wiretapping, and then you hear ... Pellicano denying that he wiretapped people, you have to ask yourself how believable he is," the source said.

Pellicano is scheduled for trial next summer. The Times said Nicherie would be sentenced in March.