By GREG RISLING
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES- A former Beverly Hills police officer and the ex-wife of actor Keith Carradine pleaded guilty to federal charges in a wiretapping investigation that authorities said involves imprisoned Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano.
Craig Stevens, 45, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to two counts of wire fraud and four counts of unauthorized access of protected computers to commit fraud.
Stevens, who had worked for the Beverly Hills Police Department since 1982, allegedly funneled information to Pellicano. He could face up to 35 years in prison and his sentencing on Oct. 16.
On Friday, Sandra Carradine, 58, pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury. She and Pellicano were dating when she hired him to investigate her ex-husband, Keith Carradine, her attorney Peter Knecht said.
Authorities said the guilty pleas were part of an ongoing FBI case involving Pellicano, who is being investigated by a grand jury for possible illegal wiretaps on behalf of lawyers and their clients.
The private detective is scheduled to be released next month from federal prison after completing a 30-month sentence for possessing illegal weapons.
The FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment about the investigation of Pellicano. He has provided detective work, security and sometimes acted as a spokesman for such celebrities as Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Sylvester Stallone.
Stevens admitted that he used Beverly Hills Police Department computers to obtain information from the Department of Motor Vehicles about four people and sold it to Pellicano, authorities said. Stevens resigned from the department Friday.
A message left for Stevens’ attorney, Michael Schwartz, was not immediately returned Tuesday.
Sandra Carradine admitted she lied to a grand jury in October 2004 when she denied knowing that Pellicano wiretapped her former husband’s phone, according to court documents.
She faces up to 10 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 25.
Pellicano was suspected in 2002 of hiring a man to threaten a Los Angeles Times reporter who was working on a story about possible links between actor Steven Seagal and the Mafia.
Although Pellicano was never charged with making threats, he pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms and explosives.