Usher, Adam Lambert and 'Real Housewives' stars targeted in robbery scheme
A Beverly Hills real estate agent and his alleged accomplice have been charged with burglarizing celebrity homes, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday. Among those named in the complaint were Usher, Adam Lambert, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars Dorit and Paul “P.K.” Kemsley, and former NFL player Shaun Phillips.
Real estate agent Jason Emil Yaselli and Benjamin Eitan Ackerman are accused of using open houses to help pull off the robberies, which took place between 2016 and 2018. The Kemsley's $8 million Beverly Hills mansion was featured on Bravo's Million Dollar Listing: LA, but after it was robbed, they pulled it off the market.
Yaselli, 32, and Ackerman, 33, both of Beverly Hills, were charged with money laundering, 12 counts of first-degree residential burglary, two counts of first-degree residential burglary with a person present, two counts of identity theft, one count of conspiracy to commit burglary and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. They are accused of taking more than $500,000 through fraud and embezzlement. Ackerman pleaded not guilty on Thursday. Yaselli is expected to be arraigned on Friday.
If convicted, the defendants face a possible maximum sentence of 31 years in state prison. The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
Bethenny Frankel says she’s married after announcing ‘Real Housewives’ departure
Taylor Swift takes on Trump, says she's 'obviously' pro-choice: I'll 'do everything I can for 2020'
MTV's new docuseries 'Ghosted' slammed for promoting stalking
Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle’s newsletter.