Friday 23 September 2022 07:38 PM 'Fraudster' dubbed 'Con Queen of Hollywood' after '$1.5M scam' would find ... trends now
An alleged fraudster dubbed 'the Con Queen of Hollywood' may find sharing a cell in an American prison 'a source of stress', a court has heard.
Indonesian man Hargobind Tahilramani, 42, is wanted in the US for a $1.5 million scam and is fighting his extradition from the UK.
Tahilramani allegedly swindled Hollywood professionals out of large sums of cash by posing as showbiz executives offering them movie deals, including pretending to be producers working for The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan.
Hargobind Tahilramani, 42, allegedly ran a scam which saw him impersonate top film executives
Others imitated by the so-called 'catfish' included Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy, former Sony movie chief Amy Pascal, and ex-Paramount boss Sherry Lansing, it is said.
In another instance, Tahilramani allegedly spoke in a high-pitched voice to impersonate Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Wendi Deng while luring creatives into his scheme.
He is facing two counts of wire fraud, five counts of aggravated identity theft and is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries the maximum of 20 years jail.
He was arrested at a £60-a-night Aparthotel in Manchester on 26 November 2020 after a year-long probe by the FBI.
Tahilramani, who is openly gay and said he came to the UK so he could live in a 'free society', is currently in HMP Wandsworth and is resisting extradition to the US.
Neil Greenberg, a psychiatrist who examined Tahilramani, gave evidence at Westminster Magistrates Court today.
Ben Cooper, representing Mr Tahilramani, questioned Mr Greenberg.
'If he were given a cellmate, is it capable of being more damaging to this defendant's mental health?'
'It could go either way', replied Mr Greenberg.
