A tech millionaire, a stripper, and their threesome with an underage girl have led to a bizarre case of extortion out of Michigan.
According to the Detroit News, businessman Paul Vagnozzi allegedly met 18-year-old Jessica Tackett in 2008 when she was working as a topless dancer. Vagnozzi initiated a sexual relationship with Tackett, often paying her for sex, Later that year, he paid to have a threesome with Tackett and her younger cousin. That’s when things got really nuts.
Jessica’s father Terry Tackett threatened to report Vagnozzi to the police, claiming that the younger cousin was a minor and that Vagnozzi had also raped Jessica. He also suggested he had powerful friends who could hurt Vagnozzi if he didn’t cooperate:
The pole dancer’s pop allegedly threatened to beat up Vagnozzi and order his pals in the “mafia” and Jokers Motorcycle Club to hurt him if the retired software executive didn’t pay millions to keep secret a threesome with two teens, prosecutors allege.
The alleged threats worked. From 2008-12, prosecutors say Vagnozzi gave Terry Tackett more than $2.6 million in cash and checks, according to the indictment. The money allegedly bankrolled the father’s lavish lifestyle, including a home in Romulus, six Harley-Davidson motorcycles, muscle cars, Jet Skis and expensive gifts for his stripper girlfriends.
Now that their alleged scheme has come to light, Terry Tackett is facing 119 charges. These include conspiracy to obstruct justice, tax evasion, and money laundering — all of which could land him 20 years in prison. Jessica and her mother Kimberly are getting off much easier with conspiracy to obstruct justice, a possible 5 years in prison, and $250,000 in fines.
Source: The Detroit News