Celebrity Agent Jailed For Defrauding Stars

Celebrity booking agent ALAN WALKER has been jailed for five years after defrauding his famous clients, including basketball ace EARVIN 'MAGIC' JOHNSON, actor James Earl Jones and 60 MINUTES host Andy Rooney.

Walker, president of Program Corp of America, was convicted in April (05) on 61 counts of mail fraud and conspiracy after repeatedly booking stars for public engagements and pocketing their fees for himself.

In New York's White Plains District Court yesterday (27OCT05), JUDGE COLLEEN McMAHON sentenced Walker, 68, to five years in a federal prison because he owes "a whole lot of people a whole lot of money" and ordered him to pay back $525,800 (GBP292,100) - only a third of the amount he is believed to have taken from the victims.

Other stars defrauded by Walkers include retired boxer RUBIN 'HURRICANE' CARTER, environmentalist Erin Brockovich, actor/producer James Carville, late comedian Alan King and late actor Ossie Davis.