Uma Thurman, Other Stars Targeted in $30-Million Ponzi Scam

Uma Thurman, Other Stars Targeted in $30-Million Ponzi Scam:
Just because you're a celebrity does not mean you're immune to being ripped off. Witness the jaw-dropping story of a scammer to the Stars "who allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme that 30 million U.S. dollars bilked from including Uma Thurman, Wesley Snipes, Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino, playwright Neil Simon, directors Mike Nichols, Martin Scorsese and Nora Ephron, illusionist David Blaine, and photographer Annie Leibovitz.
And although some of the more lucky stars smelled a rat and got their money out in time, on Thursday arrested federal prosecutors called financial adviser Kenneth Starr, 66, his $ 7.5 million Manhattan condo - where he was hiding in the cupboard, until federal agents spotted his shoes under the door, according to The New York Times.
Initially Starr's wife, Diane Passage, one former dancer at the strip club Scores, told the officers that Starr was not at home. But yes, the New York Post reports, quoting the agents, they pointed up and whispered: "He's upstairs. "
Not a complete surprise:
"News of the arrest Ken Starr's does not come as a complete surprise to me, and I will this story with great interest," photographer Leibovitz said in a statement. "Ken Starr no longer represents me and not for some time."
Thurman, according to the Post was forced to confront Starr personally about 1 million U.S. dollars that mysteriously disappeared from her account. The money was then added, says the Times, when Starr took from the account of another client, a talent agent and his wife.
The Post reports that word of the incident spread through VIP Starr Thurman's roster like wildfire.
Mini-Madoff :
In comparison with that greatest Ponzi schemer of all time, Bernard Madoff, who ripped off as VIP customers like Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Steven Spielberg, Larry King, Zsa Zsa Gabor, John Malkovich, baseball legend Sandy Koufax and various organizations to the tune of $ 60 billion, Starr spent his time schmoozing with A-listers. He donated to charity events where he could rub shoulders with them and would encourage them to seduce his money management firm, which he presented as a sort of exclusive private club.
Madoff, 72, now serving a 150-year prison sentence for his misdeeds. Ironically, both his and Starr's offices were located in the same Third Avenue Manhattan office building.
"Starr had an MO has become depressingly familiar in recent times," Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said at a news conference Thursday. "He used his access to the famous and powerful clients to an image of reliability polishing, inducing them to him to entrust the management and control of their financial affairs."
As agents on Thursday Starr's offices left with 60 boxes of documents loaded on a U-Haul rented, says the Post, under the surprised employees, said aloud: "I'm ready to puke. "