"They've got 'em,' the man said. He showed Grillo a photo of a zip tied couple, duct tape over the woman's mouth, according to a federal indictment. But the plan had hit a snag, he said. The kidnappers needed another $10,000. Unbeknownst to Grillo as he wrote out the check was that this was all part of an FBI sting."
"What drove Grillo to allegedly pay $30,000 toward a kidnapping plot was a civil lawsuit filed by a former employee of his animal sanctuary who said she'd been wrongfully terminated and discriminated against due to her pregnancy. An L.A. County jury found in favor of the woman in November 2024, awarding her $6.7 million."
"Instead of paying his former employee, federal authorities allege that Grillo hatched a plan to kidnap her and fly her to Mexico. Grillo is charged in a criminal complaint with attempted kidnapping and, if convicted, faces up to 20 years in prison."
Leo Grillo, a 77-year-old former actor and founder of an animal rescue organization, was arrested by FBI agents at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Grillo allegedly paid $30,000 toward a kidnapping plot involving a former employee of his sanctuary. The scheme was uncovered when an undercover informant showed Grillo photos of a bound couple and requested additional funds. Federal authorities allege Grillo intended to kidnap the woman and transport her to Mexico to avoid paying a $6.7 million judgment awarded to her in November 2024. The woman had filed a civil lawsuit claiming wrongful termination and pregnancy discrimination. Grillo faces charges of attempted kidnapping with a potential 20-year prison sentence.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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