Toy Soldier Co. Owner Charged with Ripping off Movie Director Peter Jackson

[link to royaloak.patch.com]

"A Royal Oak businessman is facing federal charges for racking up about $200,000 in purchases on the credit card of an Academy Award-winning movie mogul.

Detroit attorney David Steingold said Wednesday that his client, Rick Berry, who owns Michigan Toy Soldier Co., is fully cooperating with federal investigators after he used the credit card of writer/director/producer Peter Jackson to purchase merchandise for his 11 Mile Road business. Jackson is best known for directing the Lord of The Rings film trilogy."

[link to www.stuff.co.nz]

"Jackson used his American Express card in 2007 to buy items from the Michigan Toy Soldier Company, which specialises in historical miniature models of collectable soldiers and other figurines.

He is an avid collector of military and film memorabilia and is known to regularly shop online.

American newspaper The Daily Tribune reported that the owner Richard Berry, who is based in Royal Oak in Michigan, could be jailed for up to 18 months when sentenced on February 7. He had a similar conviction for credit fraud in 1993."

"JACKSON'S EMERGENCY SURGERY


Jackson was admitted to Wellington Hospital late on Wednesday night with stomach pains and underwent emergency surgery on a perforated ulcer, commonly associated with stress."

[link to www.michtoy.com]