FBI Raid over Baby-Shower Photos

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Saw this reported on CNN and found an article. This wouldn't have caught
my interest except for the times that LEAs have NOT raided alleged perps
after there were allegations of child sexual abuse/pornography made.

Police Raids Over Jolie-Pitt Baby Shower

Posted Jun 29th 2006 3:45PM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has learned the FBI and Massachusetts authorities raided a Westfield, Mass. home Tuesday night and seized photos of a baby shower held by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

It's a bizarre story that starts in Namibia, where the shower was thrown. James Haven, Jolie's brother, took a number of pictures in Namibia. When he returned to L.A., his camera broke so he took it to Best Buy where the camera was purchased, and asked them to fix it under the warranty. Best Buy sent the camera to Precision Camera and Video Repair in Enfield, Connecticut.

Sources tell TMZ that two employees at Precision, Bill Keyes and Adam Beckwith, discovered the pictures in the digital camera. We're told that Keyes told authorities that Beckwith downloaded the photos.

Keyes mother, Madelon, told TMZ that her 36-year-old son was excited, showed her the pictures and sent an email to someone in California. Sources say the email may have been an attempt to sell the photos. Madelon Keyes told TMZ, "I don't think he would do something like that."

A sergeant from the Westfield Police Department confirmed with TMZ that authorities searched Keyes' home and seized his computer. The sergeant also said a search warrant was executed at Precision Camera and Video Repair and the actual camera that took the pictures was also seized.The sergeant said neither Keyes nor Beckwith were arrested and that the case is in the hands of the LA County District Attorney. The sergeant says neither man violated Massachusetts law, but California laws are different.

Danielle Friedland of Celebrity Baby Blog tells TMZ that she received an email last week with sample photos attached, "to see what these photos may be worth." One of the of the images was on her blog. After some consideration, however, Danielle removed the images, believing the photos may have been illegally obtained.

I can't tell you how many weeks I waited around for search warrants to be
executed against perp's regarding their home computers....but omigosh,
send out the FBI/Swat Team when it comes to celebrity baby-shower photos :banghead:

The Los Angeles County District Attorney had no comment because the investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed.

We could not reach Bill Keyes or Adam Beckwith for comment.

John Malinosky, President of Precision Camera and Video Repair said he was unaware of the search and "We have absolutely no knowledge of this."

TMZ placed a call to Lavely & Singer, Pitt and Jolie's lawyers, but it was not returned.
 
Not sure why this is THR material.

If I understand the article, the Best Buy guy took somebody else's pictures and shopped them around for resale. Sounds like theft, to me, even if resale wasn't a factor.

Just because it's computer stuff and not prints from film, theft is theft...

Art
 
Just because it's computer stuff and not prints from film, theft is theft...

I agree, but not every theft requires an "FBI raid". Was SWAT involved? Over pictures? Whatever happened to a knock, a search warrant and an arrest?
 
Why use the FBI? Because the U.S. doesn't want to upset the President of Namibia, who is probably IN the photos, and maybe he asked us to help out his new friends. ;)

I know I don't have Presidents writing me thank you notes...

"According to BreakingNews, President Nujoma wrote; "For the first time ever, our entire nation can agree on something - how wonderful it is that you chose Namibia for your special day.

"You didn't just birth a child but a new era for our new country. If we are the UN's baby, then you, as one of its greatest supporters, are among its founding mothers.

"Never forget, you and your family will always have a home here.""
 
I wonder if someone has stolen my intellectual property if the fbi will conduct a raid on my behalf or if I'll just have to sue the other person...
 
Fletchette, it's been several years back, but a law was enacted for the FBI to have jurisdiction on computer crime where state lines are crossed.

Face it, Internet crime is not only interstate, it's international. It's far beyond the resources--much less jurisdiction--for your local Ossifer Friendly.

Art
 
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