Posted by Adam

Friday November 13, 2009

CINDY Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber have become the latest celebrities to be caught up in an extortion plot.

According to TMZ, an old photo of the couple’s eight year-old daughter, Kaia, was stolen from a former nanny by an acquaintance named Edis Kayalar. The photo depicts her “bound to a chair and gagged” as part of the nanny’s “cops and robbers game.”

Crawford and Gerber were unaware of this “game.” Kayalar subsequently threatened to sell the photo, thus beginning a blackmailing plot.

“A criminal complaint was filed today in federal court in Los Angeles by the U.S. Attorney’s office and the FBI stating that Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford have been the victims of an on-going extortion scheme,” said a rep for the couple. “This crime has been committed by Edis Kayalar, an acquaintance of a former nanny employed by the family.

“Mr. Kayalar threatened to sell an image taken of the couple’s then-seven-year-old daughter. There was no previous awareness by Mr. Gerber and Ms. Crawford of the existence of the photograph when they were contacted by Mr. Kayalar. The photo was taken by the former nanny as part of a purported game without the knowledge of the parents.

“The couple reported the extortion threat to the police and the FBI began a criminal investigation in the matter. Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford intend to pursue any and all available legal action against anyone who aids the perpetrator in the distribution or sale of the photograph of their daughter.”

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