I don't know what the lesson here is, except maybe for those of you with business managers (and other similar reps with control over your finances), keep your antennae up at all times…
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actress Tamara Tunie (medical examiner Melinda Warner) has found herself a real-life crime victim, though not necessarly one for the SVU crew to solve. It was announced earlier today that 51-year old Joseph Cilibrasi, her business manager for more than a decade, admitted to stealing roughly $1.4 million from her over that time period, and used the money to finance his entertainment investments (movies and Broadway shows primarily), as well as vacations around the globe.
"I stole over $1.4 million from Ms. Tunie Generet by converting funds from her (business accounts) to my personal use," Cilibrasi said in a court statement earlier today, where he reportedly pleaded guilty to grand larceny and other charges, and will server 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 years in prison.
Cilibrasi admitted in court that he "secretly opened a credit card account in Tunie's name – and got his own card on the account by falsely listing himself as her husband — and wrote checks to himself from her accounts without her permission."
But Tunie wasn't his only victim. He reportedly also stole from other clients, including $75,000 from the Kansas City Symphony's Michael Stern.
Damn… $1.4 million. I can only imagine Tunie's reaction to this. I'm guessing she's doing just fine financially, and maybe won't miss the money. But I don't know… she nor her reps have commented publicly on the matter… yet.
And the moral of the story is…