A British judge has ruled that a man labeled “Hollywood’s Queen of Fraud” for allegedly impersonating a film director in a seven-year fraud scheme can be extradited to the United States.
Hargobind Tahirramani, Arrested in a Manchester hotel claiming to be a Netflix screenwriter in 2020, he defrauded more than 300 victims, including actors, screenwriters and photographers, out of more than $1 million (£800,000). has been accused of
The 43-year-old allegedly imitated the voices of key figures, including The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan’s producer, to deliver a film that didn’t exist.
Indonesian Tahir Ramani, who was detained after an FBI investigation, said he impersonated American film producer Megan Ellison, her mother Barbara Booth and Hollywood executive Amy Pascal in phone calls, emails and text messages. It is said.
He allegedly persuaded the victims to procure their own flights to Indonesia for non-existent projects, and then forced them to pay exorbitant fees that were never repaid once they arrived in Indonesia. .
The U.S. charges the defendant with eight counts, including conspiracy to wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft, which carries several years in prison if convicted.
During his extradition proceedings last year, Tahirramani said he was living a fake life because he was gay and claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy by US prosecutors.
“At its core, this is old-fashioned advance payment fraud,” US representative Joel Smith told the Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Chief Justice Paul Goldspring has now approved his extradition and has forwarded the case to Home Secretary Suera Braverman for a decision.
Among the alleged victims was Greg Mandalano, a New York-based screenwriter who was allegedly swindled out of $80,000 (£64,400) by Tahirramani, posing as film producer Gene Pritzker. include.
Mr Smith said Tahirramani impersonated Mr Pritzker to offer sexual favors to Mr Mandalano and try to get him to send a recording of himself.
read more: ‘Hollywood Scam Queen’ Arrested
Freelance photographer Will Strassman received an email from Tahirramani impersonating Amy Pascal and was persuaded to travel to Indonesia to direct a travel series for Netflix, the court said.
He is believed to have paid around £40,000 for fictitious expenses during three trips in 2017.
Los Angeles-based Dan Considine received a text message in May 2020, allegedly from producer Thomas Haslip, who worked with Nolan on Inception and Tenet.
The court ruled that he had spoken to Tahirramani, posing as another producer, ‘Dana Walden’, who had sent audition tapes to Considine to win the role and spent about $7,000 (£5,600) on martial arts training videos. I heard that you persuaded me to pay nolan movie.
“Mr. Considine never received the video and the audition was a sham,” Smith said.
Presenting evidence, Tahirramani said he was born in Jakarta, the son of “one of the most famous producers in Indonesia,” grew up in the United States and spent time in Singapore.
“I’m an interesting person,” said Tahirramani. “They want to make movies out of me, and they want to make television.”
He argued that many of the alleged acts took place while he was in the UK and that he should not be extradited as it is not in the interest of justice.
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