Suit Accuses Producer of Bilking Pair

George Le Fave, a North Hollywood producer who is trying to stay out of prison by promising to pay back victims of a 1980 fraud, was sued Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court for allegedly bilking a father and son out of $325,000.

The suit claims that Le Fave, 42, lured Shigenori Iyama of Piedmont and his son, Steven Iyama of Los Angeles, to invest in a home video called “Sexual Secrets.” It seeks return of the funds and three times the amount in damages.

The complaint states that the “Sexual Secrets” project never materialized and that Le Fave diverted their money to his own use.

Le Fave’s attorney, Howard L. Weitzman, could not be reached for comment.

Le Fave is to surrender on Monday to begin serving a two-year prison term for his guilty plea to six counts of securities violations involving bilking $1.3 million from film investors.

Weitzman has asked the court to allow Le Fave to remain free to reimburse investors from profits from the film “The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas,” which includes marketing of such things as dolls, a book and videocassettes.

Le Fave’s victims included dozens of retirees and teachers who were promised returns of more than 30% on their investments.

At the time of his sentencing last November, he pleaded for mercy and asked to be spared a jail term, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gordon Ringer declined the request, calling the producer “the grinch who stole Christmas.”