NAMES IN THE NEWS : Celebrity Scam Artist Jailed
A key figure in a $150-million real estate scam whose victims included Eddie Murphy and actress Kirstie Alley has been sentenced to 16 to 48 years in prison.
Louis Rosen of University Heights, Ohio, was sentenced on 37 counts, including grand larceny and securities fraud. Prosecutors said he was the comptroller in deals set up by tax-shelter hustler John Peter Galanis, prosecutors said.
Dist. Atty. Robert Morgenthau said Rosen made about $1 million from a variety of schemes, including one involving the sale of limited partnerships in hotels and store space in Atlantic City, N.J.
Murphy, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason, and Alley of the TV series “Cheers,” were among 1,300 people drawn into the Atlantic City scheme in 1985, Morgenthau said.
Gerald McKelvey, a spokesman for the district attorney, said Esiason lost $79,800, Alley lost $93,500 and Murphy lost $240,375.
Rosen, 64, is free on bond pending appeal.
Galanis, from San Diego, earlier pleaded guilty and is serving a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison, along with a 27-year sentence from another case.
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