EXCLUSIVE: How Kiefer Sutherland Got Duped Out Of $869,000
Jan. 27 2010, Published 4:12 a.m. ET
The district attorney in the Kiefer Sutherland cattle embezzlement case believes that the 24 star has little chance of getting his $869,000 back after he was duped by professional cowboy Michael Wayne Carr. He also gives details on how the actor was tricked into bankrolling the scheme.
“Mr. Sutherland has been cooperating with us but I doubt if he or the other victims will ever get their money back,”San Joaquin District County Attorney Stepher Maier told RadarOnline.com.
Kiefer Cracks A Head-butt Joke To Reporters
The actor - who owns a ranch in Montana – fell in love with cattle herding after he played a rodeo clown in the movie Cowboy Up alongside Daryl Hannah and Molly Ringwald back in 2000. He then made several friends in the cattle herding community and it’s understood that this is how Carr - who is a professional steer roping promoter and cattle manager - got to know Sutherland.
“It would appear that Mr. Sutherland was making a movie involving cattle roping and he enjoyed it so much that he continued to do so after filming ended,” Maier revealed. “He ended up buying a ranch and got to know more and more people in the cattle community and we understand that Carr may have helped him to rope and that he certainly knew people that were connected to Mr Sutherland.
EXCLUSIVE DETAILS: Cindy Crawford Target of Extortion Scheme
“In 2006 Carr put together a deal where Mr. Sutherland invested around $500,000 and made a quick $100,000 profit in around 30 days.”
Carr was selling cattle owned by The Rocky Mountain Cattle Movers and decided to put together an even bigger deal.
“He’s obviously the type of guy who can make a good impression on people and unfortunately Mr. Sutherland and several other were taken in by him.”
Carr - who has been charged with 12 felonies including counts of grand theft, forgery, obtaining money through false pretenses, embezzlement and falsifying corporate books – allegedly sold cattle entrusted to him by Leonard Lansburgh who operates Rocky Mountain Cattle Movers.
He also allegedly received $869,000 from Sutherland as well as $177,000 from Katherine and Andrew Fishman after he told them that he was going to buy steers in Mexico and bring them to the US to sell at a prearranged buyer at a profit.
Levi Johnston: Sarah Palin Masterminded Baby Cover-Up Scheme
“Our evidence shows that the money from Sutherland and the others was in fact paid to prior investors and banks for other debts,” Maier said.
“We believe we have a strong case and that Mr. Carr could be facing serious jail time if he’s found guilty. Ideally, we are hoping to keep Mr Sutherland out of court because we do not want the case turning into a media circus as it is a complex case and we want to focus on the evidence.”
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Carr is set to be formally arraigned at San Joaquin Court on February 8, 2010, in connection with the charges.
