Singer, Actor from Van Nuys to Serve 2 1/2 Years for Fraud
A Van Nuys singer and actor featured in a 1992 ABC miniseries has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for passing a counterfeit check purportedly issued by CBS, U.S. Atty. Alejandro N. Mayorkas said Friday.
Grady “Baby” Harrell Jr., 42, was convicted in September of bank fraud after depositing a phony $150,000 check at a Studio City bank in 1996. The bank accepted the check, and within four days Harrell had drained the entire sum from his account.
A CBS vice president testified at Harrell’s trial that the performer had never worked for the network.
Harrell played legendary R&B; singer Jackie Wilson, an inspiration to the young Michael Jackson, in the ABC miniseries “The Jacksons: An American Dream.” He also recorded the song “Sticks and Stones,” which made Billboard magazine’s list of Top Black Singles in 1989, according to the U.S. attorney.
“The audacity of Mr. Harrell to pass a completely bogus check was rewarded today with a 2 1/2-year stint in federal prison,” said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder ordered Harrell to pay $132,939 in restitution.
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