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15 Celebrities Who Are In Jail Right Now
Actor Danny Masterson How he's famous: Masterson is best known for playing Steven Hyde on That '70s Show from 1998–2006. He also was a regular cast member on Men at Work and The Ranch, which re-teamed him with That '70s Show costar Ashton happened: In 2017, the Los Angeles Police Department began a sexual assault investigation into Masterson after three women came forward with allegations against him. In each case, all of which occurred at Masterson's home between 2001–03, the women said Masterson gave them alcohol and then, when they became disoriented, took them to his bedroom and violently raped them. Masterson, who proclaimed his innocence, was arrested on three counts of forcible rape in early 2021.A first trial in 2022 ended in a hung jury; a retrial the following year ended with Masterson convicted of two of the three counts of forcible rape. He was sentenced to 30 years to life (with the earliest possibility of being paroled coming after serving 25 and 1/2 years). He is incarcerated in California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los interesting element of this case involved the Church of Scientology, of which Masterson and all three victims were members. All three victims said the church tried to shield Masterson from accountability, and pressured them not to go to the authorities. As BuzzFeed News reported in 2022, one of the victims "recalled how she went to the church's Celebrity Centre in Hollywood to report the sexual assault, but instead of getting any assistance, she was warned against using the word 'rape' and told that she could be excommunicated from the church — and disavowed by her Scientologist family and friends — if she contacted police."In response to these allegations, the Church of Scientology told BuzzFeed, "The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone, Scientologists or not, to law enforcement. Quite the opposite, Church policy explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land. All allegations to the contrary are totally false." Actor Ryan Grantham How he's famous: Grantham was a succesful child actor, notably playing Rodney James in the 2010 movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Later, he appeared in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and in a 2019 episode of the CW's Riverdale. All told, Grantham amassed more than 30 acting credits in film and happened: On March 31, 2020, the then-21-year-old Grantham killed his mother by shooting her in the back of her head as she played piano in their British Columbia home. He then loaded up his car with guns and ammunition and began driving east with a plan to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He ultimately changed his mind and considered carrying out a mass shooting at his alma mater, Simon Fraser University, before deciding to turn himself to Grantham's lawyer, Grantham was assessed by two court appointed psychiatrists who 'agreed that at the time of this horrendous event, he (Grantham) was suffering from a major depressive disorder and a cannabis use disorder, among other things.' Grantham pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and — at his sentencing — pledged to spend his life rehabilitating himself and helping others. He is eligible for parole in 2036 after serving 14 years. Baseball player Mel Hall How he's famous: In 1981, Hall broke into the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs at just 20 years old, and went on to finish third in voting for the Rookie of the Year award. He played 13 seasons in total, including four with the New York Yankees, and retired with 134 home runs and a career .276 batting average. What happened: In 1989, during Hall's first year with the Yankees, he noticed a 15-year-old freshman in high school and her friends in the stands. He spent the game playfully pretending like he was going to toss her a ball but never did. At the suggestion of her father, the girl wrote Hall a letter asking for a signed ball, and to her shock, Hall called her house, inviting the family to another game. Soon, Hall ingratiated himself with the family, saying he was lonely with his new team. He began showing up at their home after games (sometimes in a limo) and hanging out with the girl talking late into the night. Hall started helping the family financially (paying to put in a swimming pool and for the mother to quit her job), then moved in with them. He began dating the girl with her parents' consent and even took over the parents' primary bedroom with the girl (the parents moved into their daughter's room). This relationship continued for years (the Yankees even published a photo of Hall and the girl at her high school prom in their media book) until the girl, then a 19-year-old woman, broke things off and started her life Hall's career ended, he became a girls' youth sports coach (for both basketball and softball), and did the same thing, earning the trust of families of young girls on his teams that he liked — again moving into a family's home in one circumstance — and sexually abusing the in 2007, two of his victims found each other online (including one who was just 12 when Hall first assaulted her) and went to the police. Hall was arrested, found guilty at trial, and convicted on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. He received a sentence of 45 years in prison (with no chance of parole for 22 years and 4 months). Hall is incarcerated at H. H. Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas, and isn't eligible for parole until Nov. 15, 2031. Actor Amy Locane How she's famous: Locane was an up-and-coming star in the early '90s, first starring opposite Johnny Depp in John Waters's cult classic Cry-Baby and then the critically acclaimed Blue Sky, which earned her a Young Artists' Award nomination for Best Performance by a Youth Actress Co-Starring in a Motion Picture. She was also a regular on the hit prime-time soap opera Melrose Place. She later retired from acting to raise her happened: On the night of June 27, 2010, Locane was driving 53 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone when she crashed into a car driven by Fred Seeman, who was making a left-hand turn into his driveway. Seeman's wife Helene, an NYU adjunct professor, was killed in the accident. When police arrived, Locane — who had been drinking at a friend's barbecue — was found to have a .23 blood alcohol level, more than three times the legal was convicted of second-degree vehicular homicide and assault by auto but received a sentence of only three years in jail, two less than the minimum sentence for the offense (the judge cited the welfare of Locane's children in giving the shorter sentence). Locane — who joined Alcoholics Anonymous after the crash and is now sober — served three years behind bars before being paroled on June 12, 2015, but an appeals court subsequently found her initial sentence to be too lenient and resentenced her to eight years in jail on September 17, 2020. She's currently incarcerated in New Jersey's Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women and is eligible for parole on Dec. 20, 2024. Reality TV star Josh Duggar How he's famous: Duggar is the oldest child of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, who became famous for their extremely large family of 19 children, as featured on the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting. The show often focused on Duggar and his wife, Anna, as they started their own family. What happened: In 2016, In Touch magazine obtained a police report that implicated Duggar as having molested numerous children — including his sisters — when he was a teenager. At the time of the crimes, Michelle and Jim Bob didn't go to the police. Instead, they consulted with their church leaders and had an Arkansas state trooper give Duggar "a very stern talk." The trooper was far from the ideal person to seek help from. He not only failed to report the crimes, but was later sentenced to 56 years in jail for child sexual abuse images. The release of the police report eventually led to a federal investigation of Duggar. After the authorities found child sexual abuse images on Duggar's computer at his used car dealership, they arrested Duggar on federal charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse images. At the trial, a Homeland Security agent described the images found on Duggar's computer as being "in the top five of the worst of the worst I've ever had to examine."Duggar was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison. He is serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Facility (FCI) Seagoville in Texas and won't be eligible for possible release until Oct. 2, 2032. Film producer Harvey Weinstein How he's famous: Weinstein — cofounder of the movie company Miramax — produced many critically acclaimed hit films during the '90s and '00s, including Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting. He won an Academy Award for producing Shakespeare in happened: After years of rumors, the New York Times published an investigation into Weinstein featuring the accounts of over a dozen women accusing the producer of sexual harassment and abuse. A New Yorker article followed days later with even more allegations. These reports opened the floodgates, and soon nearly 100 women (many very famous) came forward with accounts of Weinstein's abuse. On May 25, 2018, the New York district attorney's office charged Weinstein with "rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse, and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two separate women." Among those who testified against Weinstein at the trial was actor Annabella Sciorra, who said that Weinstein burst into her apartment after dinner and raped her. "I said, 'No, no,'" Sciorra testified, "But there was not much I could do at that point. My body shut down. It was just so disgusting that my body started to shake in a way that was unusual. I didn't really even know what was happening. It was like a seizure."Weinstein was found guilty and sentenced to 23 years in jail; he subsequently was tried in Los Angeles for more crimes and sentenced to 16 additional years. British prosecutors, meanwhile, have authorized police to charge Weinstein with two counts of indecent assault against a woman in London in is serving his sentence in New York State's Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles north of Albany. Actor and mixed martial arts fighter Joe Son How he's famous: Born in South Korea, Son moved to the United States as a child. He became a professional mixed martial arts fighter, fighting at the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 3, but his fighting career ended uneventfully with an 0–4 record. Son made bigger waves as an actor, playing the bad guy in low-budget action films starring Lorenzo Lamas and Dolph Lundgren, and then — most notably — playing the villain Random Task in 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. What happened: In 2008, Son was arrested for kicking in the door of his roommate's car. As part of a plea deal, Son was required to provide a DNA sample to the authorities. When his sample was run through the system, it linked him to a horrific, nearly two-decade-old cold case. On Christmas Eve in 1990, he and an accomplice pretended to be lost as they approached a 19-year-old woman walking her dog. They then threw her into their car and held her hostage for hours, beating and raping her. Son also repeatedly threatened to shoot her as he counted the bullets in his gun. At the trial, the victim recounted how Son said "he was giving me to himself as a Christmas present." Son was convicted of one count of felony torture (the statute of limitations had run out on the sexual assault charges) and sentenced to seven years to life. Just a month after beginning his sentence, Son killed his cellmate. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to an additional 27 years. Reality TV star Jen Shah How she's famous: Shah starred on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City for three seasons, earning a reputation for sharp one-liners and, well, drama. What happened: Shah was criminally charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud in March 2021. She and her assistant were accused of orchestrating a telemarketer scam where they'd bilk their (usually) older victims out of large sums of money in exchange for services like website building and business coaching, which had little to no value. Nightline reported that a 75-year-old retiree in North Carolina named Trisha (she asked not to use her last name) invested more than half of her savings — $47,000 — on coaching about a business she hoped to start. Another victim, World War II veteran Ralph Hallock, was scammed out of more than $100,000. He died by suicide at the age of 92 (his family believes the scam contributed to his death).According to a sentencing memo from federal prosecutors, Shah "often joked about the victims' suffering and her employees' ability to victimize them." Texts were also released between Shah and her co-conspirators discussing how they could keep their victims hooked and spending more initially claimed she was innocent but eventually pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She was sentenced to serve 6½ years and is incarcerated at FPC Bryan Prison in Texas. She's eligible for parole in August 2028. Subway pitchman Jared Fogle How he's famous: Fogle made national headlines in 1999 when — as a student at Indiana University — he lost 245 pounds on a self-created diet where he exclusively ate Subway every day: a small turkey sub, a large veggie sub, baked potato chips, and diet soda. He was soon hired by Subway to be their spokesperson, and appeared in over 300 commercials between 2000 and happened: Fogle's seemingly wholesome story was revealed to have a dark underbelly on July 7, 2015, when Fogle's Indiana home was raided by the FBI and Indiana State Police investigators who confiscated computers and DVD players. Two months prior, Russell Taylor — the executive director of the Jared Foundation, a nonprofit that purported to fight childhood obesity — was arrested on federal child sexual abuse images charges, and in the course of investigating, authorities discovered he had traded sexually explicit videos of children as young as 6 years old with Fogle. Additionally, the FBI subpoenaed text messages Fogle traded in 2008 with a Subway franchisee he was having an affair with. The texts were damning: Fogle talked about sexually abusing children as young as 9 years old, and tried to enlist her help to sleep with her 16-year-old cousin. Further investigation found that Fogle traveled to New York to have sex with a 17-year-old underage sex worker, and offered adult sex workers a finder's fee if they'd connect him with a possibility of 50 years in jail if he went to trial, Fogle pleaded guilty to two counts: distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse images, and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. He was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison. He's currently incarcerated in the Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood, and isn't eligible for parole until March 24, 2029. Actor Michael Jace How he's famous: Jace was best known for playing Officer Julien Lowe on the FX police drama The Shield but also appeared in high-profile motion pictures like Forrest Gump and Boogie Nights. What happened: On May 19, 2024, at Jace's home in the Hyde Park area of Los Angeles, Jace shot his wife April — an elite, medal-winning sprinter — in the back as their young sons, ages 5 and 8, looked on from their bedroom. Prosecutors said Jace then shot his wife in the legs before telling her, "If you like running, then run to heaven."Prosecutors further contended that Jace — who had been drinking all day — was "obsessed" with the idea his wife might leave him and believed she was having an was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. At his sentencing, Jace said, "There is absolutely no justification for my actions on that night. I am profoundly sorry for the pain that I've caused everyone." Jace is serving his sentence at California State Prison, Corcoran. Musician R. Kelly How he's famous: Sometimes called the King of R&B, Kelly is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, selling over 75 million records. "I Believe I Can Fly" and "Ignition (Remix)" are probably his best-known songs. He also wrote songs for other artists, including Michael Jackson's No. 1 hit, "You Are Not Alone."What happened: Allegations of sexual abuse of minors have followed Kelly for most of his career, but for a long time, he escaped accountability. In 1994, a then-27-year-old Kelly married his protégé Aaliyah, who was just 15 (Aaliyah ended the marriage when her family found out). Two years later, a woman filed a civil suit against Kelly, alleging that he had a sexual relationship with her starting at age 15. Kelly settled the case out of 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Chicago police had begun investigations into Kelly and allegations that he'd had sex with a minor but had to drop them due to a lack of cooperation from the accusers. In 2002, a video circulated of what was alleged to be Kelly urinating on an underage girl and engaging in sex acts. This led to Kelly being charged with 21 counts of child sexual abuse images. Shortly after that, Kelly was charged in Florida with 12 additional charges of producing child sexual abuse images after police raided Kelly's home and allegedly found images of him having sex with a minor on a digital camera. The Florida charges, however, were thrown out when a judge ruled the police lacked probable cause for the search warrant. The Chicago charges ended in Kelly's favor, too, when a 2008 trial ended with him being found not guilty because it couldn't be proven the girl on the tape was a minor. In 2017, BuzzFeed News reported that the parents of three legal-aged young women claimed their daughters were being "held against their will" by Kelly in what was described as a "cult." This led to others coming forward with more allegations against Kelly, including that he'd had sex with minors. Then, in 2019, a comprehensive, six-hour Lifetime documentary, Surviving R. Kelly, put Kelly and his crimes under the spotlight even more. Police in Chicago charged him with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (after acquiring a tape of Kelly allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old), and federal authorities indicted him twice for crimes related to his sexual abuse of minors. In 2022, Kelly was found guilty in both federal trials and sentenced to spend 31 years in jail. He is currently serving his sentence at FCI Butner Medium I, a medium-security prison in North Carolina, and won't be eligible for parole until 2047 when he is around 80. Reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley How they're famous: Real estate tycoon Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie were the stars of the USA Network's reality show Chrisley Knows Best, which followed the couple as they raised five children with a "brutally honest" parenting style. The show debuted to solid ratings in 2014 and continued until happened: In August 2019, The Chrisleys were indicted on charges of having evading nearly $2 million in state taxes, using their production company to hide over $1 million of reality TV income from the IRS, and directing an employee to falsify income and asset documents. The Chrisleys pleaded not guilty to the crimes and scored a big win two months later when prosecutors dropped the state tax charges (the Georgia Department of Revenue found that, instead of failing to pay $2 million in taxes, the Chrisleys actually owed less than $77,000 due to an incorrect filing on one tax return).The reality stars still faced the charges related to bank fraud and their federal taxes, and those proved much stickier. During opening statements at the trial, prosecutors painted a picture of the Chrisleys exaggerating their wealth to banks and submitting false documents to borrow over $30 million in order to keep their affluent lifestyle the while hiding money from the IRS."They made up documents and they lie through their teeth to get whatever they want, whenever they want it," Assistant US Attorney Annalise Peters a nearly three-week trial, the couple were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and tax fraud. Julie was also convicted of wire fraud. Todd was sentenced to 12 years, and Julie was sentenced to 7. Todd is serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution (FPI) Pensacola in Florida, while Julie is incarcerated at Florida's Federal Correctional Institution Marianna. Todd was eligible to be released on Jan. 22, 2033; Julie was eligible to be released on Oct. 19, 2028. They have both since been pardoned by Donald Trump. Reality TV star Jerry Harris How he's famous: Harris starred on the Emmy-award-winning Netflix docuseries Cheer about the Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team from Corsicana, Texas. He became a fan favorite for his big personality and even endeared himself to Ellen DeGeneres, who invited him to attend the 2020 Academy Awards as her show's happened: In September 2020, a federal warrant was issued for Harris alleging that, when he was 19, he asked 13-year-old twin boys to send nude photos, one of whom agreed to do so. On the second season of Cheer, the boy described how the abuse began, saying, "I told him that I was 13, and then after that — right off the bat — he asked me, 'Can I have butt pics?' or 'Can you send butt pics?'" Harris was soon arrested and charged with the production of child sexual abuse images (according to authorities, Harris admitted to trading sexual images with 10–15 children he knew were minors). Court documents also stated that the then-19-year-old Harris had sex with a 15-year-old in February 2022, Harris pleaded guilty on charges of child sexual abuse images and traveling for illicit sex with minors. He was sentenced to spend 12 years in a federal prison in Oklahoma City. Rock star Gary Glitter How he's famous: Gary Glitter — real name Paul Gadd — was a popular British glam rock star of the '70s and '80s. He sold over 20 million records and released scores of hit singles in the UK, including "Rock and Roll Part 2," which has been played endlessly at sporting events across America. The song was also used in the film Joker when Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck dances down a staircase. What happened: In 1997, Glitter brought his laptop in to be repaired, and the technician found sexual abuse images of children on the hard drive. After police searched Glitter's home and found more images of children, he was arrested and eventually sentenced to four months in jail. After being released, Glitter left the UK, where he'd become persona non grata. In 2005, Glitter established a new home in Vietnam, but within months, authorities arrested him for molesting two girls, ages 11 and 12. Glitter was found guilty and sentenced to three years in jail. At his sentencing, the judge said: "His lewd acts have compromised the dignity of the Vietnamese people, law, and common sense." Glitter, meanwhile, claimed his innocence and said it was all a "conspiracy."Upon completing his sentence in 2008, Glitter did everything he could to avoid being deported to the UK, including feigning having a heart attack. Nevertheless, he eventually was returned to England and placed on the sex offender's registry. Four years passed uneventfully until ITV aired a documentary about Top of the Pops host Jimmy Savile and his alleged sexual abuse. In the documentary, there was a segment accusing Glitter of raping a 13- or 14-year-old girl in Savile's BBC dressing room during the late '70s. This led to Glitter being arrested and standing trial for sexually abusing three young girls, ages 12, 11, and less than 10, between the years 1975 and 1980. Glitter was found guilty and sentenced to 16 years in jail, with the judge saying at the hearing, "It is difficult to overstate the depravity of this dreadful behavior."In February of 2023, Glitter was released from jail after serving half his sentence. However, one month later, he was thrown back into jail after violating his release conditions by trying to access the dark web and viewing downloaded images of children. The now-79-year-old disgraced pop star was denied parole earlier this year and remains behind bars. Football star Dave Meggett How he's famous: A 10-year veteran of the NFL, Meggett won a Super Bowl in 1990 with the New York Giants and made two All-Pro teams (once with the Giants and once with the New England Patriots). Meggett played running back and receiver but was best known as an elite return specialist. At the time of his retirement, he had the most punt return yards in NFL history (3,709).What happened: In 1998, Meggett was accused of sexually assaulting and robbing a Toronto sex worker, but prosecutors eventually dropped the sexual assault charge and only tried Meggett for the robbery; the trial ended in a hung jury. This started a pattern of Meggett escaping serious accountability for his crimes, even as he was subsequently accused of sexual assault by three additional women — including one who said Meggett put a date rape drug in her drink at a bar, dragged her to his Porsche, and then raped was finally brought to justice in 2009 after he broke into the home of a woman he'd loaned $200 and sat on the edge of her bed. She awoke, startled, and he demanded she repay him. When she didn't have the money, he said, "I'm gonna get a down payment now" and raped her. Once Meggett left, the victim went to the hospital, where doctors found vaginal abrasions consistent with sexual was convicted of burglary and criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He's presently incarcerated at South Carolina's Lieber Correctional Institution and isn't eligible for parole until July 6, 2034. UPDATE The post has been updated to include a statement from the Church of Scientology.
Hamilton Spectator
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Burlington lawyer charged in suspected Ponzi scheme facing suspension
A Burlington lawyer arrested in connection with a suspected multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme is under investigation by the Law Society of Ontario for allegedly misusing her trust fund. While its probe is underway, the law society is seeking to have Crystal Masterson's licence suspended due to 'a significant risk of harm to members of the public, or to the public interest in the administration of justice, if the order is not made.' The law society filed its notice of motion against Masterson on May 13, about six weeks after she was arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police and charged with fraud over $5,000. Her law society hearing is set for June 3. Masterson and two others — punk-rock-singer-turned-businessman Doug Grozelle and Halton regional police fraud detective Jon Williams — are accused of running a $24.6-million international investment scheme that left dozens of people broke or homeless. The OPP called it 'a complex, multi-jurisdictional investment fraud scheme.' The Spectator began its own investigation years ago into the 'complex' investment scheme that The alleged pyramid scheme, which operated for two years, sucked in at least 236 participants, 116 of whom lost money . Bankruptcy receiver Grant Thornton has said the scheme was 'insolvent from its inception' and used money from new investors to pay illegally high returns to a select group of clients, many of whom were Halton regional police officers . The top two 'net winners' are John and Krista McMullan , a married couple who are both sworn Halton officers. The pitch Grozelle made to investors was simple: if they gave him large amounts of cash for short periods, ranging from a few weeks to a few months, he promised to lend it to third parties, then pay it back fast with a high rate of return. Punk-rock-singer-turned-businessman Doug Grozelle is accused of being the mastermind of an investment scheme. He is charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and faces extensive, ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. Grozelle, who in the '90s was the frontman for a Burlington punk band called Trunk, is accused of being the scheme's mastermind. He is charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and faces extensive, ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. Months before the arrests, a civil court ordered Grozelle to pay $40 million to three of his investors — Williams, Masterson and Masterson's husband, chartered accountant Michael Foley. He never paid. According to an affidavit filed with the court, Foley said he and Masterson began lending Grozelle money in April 2022, through Williams. Masterson had acted as Williams' real estate lawyer and they became friends. Some 166 investors lost money to Douglas Grozelle. Some of them lost everything. Foley said he first met Grozelle in July 2022 at a charity event. By mid-September, he was providing loans directly to Grozelle, cutting Williams out as the middleman. 'Having previously invested in real estate, Crys and I welcomed an opportunity to diversify our portfolio,' Foley said in his affidavit. 'After becoming aware of Williams' success with Grozelle and knowing Williams' background as a police officer in frauds, his general aversion to risk and his trust in Grozelle, Crys and I felt comfortable making the loans.' When payouts began drying up, Foley and Masterson took out a $1-million line of credit on their home to repay funds to friends and family who invested with Grozelle on their recommendation. Eventually, according to Foley's affidavit, they were 'forced to sell our matrimonial home.' Several investors sued Masterson and Foley in an attempt to recover their funds, according to statements of claim. One lawsuit, which has not yet been tested in court, says Masterson solicited $500,000 from the plaintiffs in exchange for five per cent interest, payable within 30 days. The money was paid to a trust account for Masterson Law, which is Masterson's firm. The officers who were the biggest winners in an investment scheme now under criminal 'She then put the plaintiffs' funds in a Ponzi scheme despite being warned prior that more loans were being taken out to pay out previous defaults by the head of the Ponzi scheme,' according to the statement of claim. 'In exchange for securing funds for the Ponzi scheme, Crystal Masterson was to receive a finder's fee of an amount unknown to the plaintiffs.' In documents filed by the law society, the grounds for the motion for suspension include allegations that Masterson engaged in criminal conduct, 'knowingly participated in, facilitated or otherwise failed to prevent dishonesty, fraud, crime or illegal conduct' and 'may have used trust account(s) for purposes not related to the provision of legal services.' Before her arrest, the Masterson Law website described it as a 'boutique firm' specializing in real estate law, wills and estates. Her bio on the website said: 'Although Crys's legal name is Crystal, she goes by Crys professionally, as she understands it's difficult for clients to trust a lawyer with a stripper name (thanks, mom and dad). Crys enjoys spending time with her spouse and three young children, attending any concert that comes to town, watching all variations of the Bachelor franchise, cheering for the Raptors (even when they're losing), making the world's best margaritas, and refusing to wear pants without an elastic waist (because self-care).' That bio information has since been removed. The Spectator reached out to Masterson for this story. A lawyer who is being retained for her law society proceedings said he could not speak until the case is properly before the tribunal. At the time of Masterson's arrest, her criminal lawyer, Daniel Brodsky, told The Spectator 'the allegation shocked my client, but we will be ready to fight hard to clear her name.' Burlington's Doug Grozelle is accused of masterminding a 'complex international ponzi scheme' Masterson's LinkedIn profile says she graduated from the University of Waterloo with a B.A. in rhetoric and professional writing, then received her law degree from the University of Oklahoma College in 2011. She launched her firm in 2013. A previous Spectator investigation spotlighted the misuse of lawyers' trust funds. In an examination of 199 decisions released by the Law Society of Ontario in 2022 related to disciplinary matters, nearly half — 89 — involved concerns with trust funds. Masterson is not the first area lawyer to face allegations of misusing their trust fund: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. 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Calgary Herald
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Unhoused Calgarians to benefit from expanded year-round extreme weather supports
Calgarians experiencing homelessness will soon have more access to safe, indoor spaces year-round, as two of the city's dedicated warming centres transition into year-round respites from extreme weather. Article content Article content Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) announced the initiative Thursday, a collaboration with the City of Calgary, Calgary police and United Way of Calgary. While offering shelter from extreme weather, the spaces aim to reduce barriers to housing and support reintegration into the community, ultimately helping people break the cycle of homelessness, the homeless foundation said in a release. Article content Article content 'It's very exciting for us to be able to serve more people and get them the supports that they need,' said Bo Masterson, the foundation's VP of stakeholder engagement. 'It's a really great opportunity to serve folks year round in a way that is very accessible, welcoming (and) supportive. Article content Article content 'Connecting them to services is a huge opportunity for our city to support people where they're at.' Article content The City of Calgary has committed $1.1 million per year over the next two years for the Day Spaces, according to the Calgary Homeless Foundation. Article content Masterson said the transition to year-round service was driven by the success of the Extreme Weather Response at creating low barrier access points to connect people to more sustainable, longer term supports, such as referrals to housing, mental health and medical supports, financial coaching and tax help. During the winter, more than 37,000 visits were recorded at five Extreme Weather Response locations, the foundation said. Article content Article content 'That is the success that really led us to thinking about having this this support year round,' Masterson said. Article content What is a Day Space? Article content According to CHF, Day Spaces provide an alternative to public spaces such as libraries, parks and transit during the day. They offer a trauma-informed place where people can rest, get a warm meal or beverage, and connect with services. Article content The year-round spaces will provide refuge during periods of extreme weather, such as extreme heat, cold or smoky conditions, while also connecting people to resources to ultimately support their journey out of homelessness. Article content The first expansion will take place at the Mustard Seed's Community Impact Centre, where renovations will increase daily capacity from 300 to 450. Office sapce on the second floor will be converted into service areas. Article content The centre already provides extreme weather programs, such as hygiene items, clothing, hot lunches and connection to support services. Article content 'We're very excited about this opportunity,' said Mustard Seed CEO James Gardiner. 'It gives us the chance to connect with more people in the vulnerable population that we seek to reach … This allows us to be able to touch more lives.'
Boston Globe
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
The shark from ‘Jaws' breaks again, but onstage
'It's a big departure for us,' Hanney says of the NSMT, which usually presents musicals in an arena-style setting, 'but everyone is so familiar with the movie, I think they will love this.' Advertisement 'The Shark Is Broken' zooms in on a period during the film's oft-delayed shooting schedule (it ran three months longer than expected) when the three stars — Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss — were stuck together out at sea on a boat called the Orca, with nothing to do and nowhere to go while the mechanical shark (nicknamed Bruce) underwent repairs. 'Filming a movie involves intense periods of stress and long periods of boredom,' says 'The Shark Is Broken' co-writer Joseph Nixon, best known as a British playwright and sketch comedy writer. 'When the people involved are big personalities, like these actors, it makes for great dramatic tension, and quite a lot of humor.' Advertisement 'It's not an unvarnished portrait,' says Nixon. 'Ian found some of his dad's diaries, written during a period when [Robert] was drinking heavily, that also chronicled his clashes with Dreyfuss.' Dreyfuss was in his mid-twenties during the filming, without Shaw's extensive theater training and experience (which included 'A Man for All Seasons,' 'From Russia with Love,' and 'The Sting,' to name just a few films). Dreyfuss had only two films to his credit ('American Graffiti' and 'The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz'), while Scheider had a decade of screen credits under his belt, including 'The French Connection,' 'The Seven-Ups,' and 'Klute.' 'The dynamic on the Orca was kind of 'The Three Bears,'' says Nixon, 'with Shaw as the gruff Papa Bear, Scheider as the calm, conciliatory Mama Bear, and Dreyfuss as the demanding Baby Bear.' The heart of 'The Shark Is Broken,' says director Guy Masterson, 'is the father-son dynamic. The idea that three people from very disparate backgrounds are forced to spend significant time together — remember, the filming lasted 160 days — makes the story work as a great drama even without 'Jaws' as the background.' But anchoring the story with these three well-known personalities, confined together in a small space while making a legendary film, provides 'a smorgasboard for 'Jaws' fans,' Masterson says, 'while also exploring relationships complicated by egos, alcoholism, and fame.' While Ian Shaw has had a successful acting career in England — he's currently touring the United Kingdom and Ireland with 'The Shark Is Broken' — it took him years to focus on his father's story, Masterson says. Shaw and Masterson had been friends for decades, sharing the early loss of their fathers, and the toll of alcoholism (in Masterson's case, he had a father-figure relationship with his great-uncle, actor Richard Burton). Advertisement 'When Ian asked me to read his script about three men on a boat,' Masterson says, 'I loved the context 'Jaws' provides, but the populist aspect makes these characters recognizable and their story universal.' Masterson took 'The Shark Is Broken' to the Edinburgh Festival,' which, he says, provides opportunities to take risks. The play was a hit there, and went on to successful runs in London's West End, and was revised slightly for a production in Toronto, before playing an 18-week run on Broadway where Hanney was a co-producer. The current production has reunited the original production team (including sound and set designers), while casting three new actors who bear a striking resemblance to Shaw (Timothy Hull), Dreyfuss (Jonathan Randell Silver), and Scheider (Josh Tyson). The NSMT's arena stage has been reduced to around 700 seats, all on one side, in a reimagined, proscenium-style set up. The Orca set, where all the action takes place, is realistic, but also modular, easy to dismantle and bring to Martha's Vineyard, where Hanney will remount it at the Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs for a two-week run starting July 5, not far from the Edgartown Cinemas, which Hanney owns. 'I hope the popularity of the film and the connection to the 50th anniversary will draw people,' says Hanney. 'But you don't have to know anything about the movie to enjoy this great story of three people trying to figure out how to get along and get their jobs done.' Advertisement This summer's Shakespeare on the Common production, "As You Like It," will run from July 23 to Aug. 10. Cast announced for 'As You Like It' on the Boston Common July 23-Aug. 10 Commonwealth Shakespeare Company returns to the Boston Common July 23-Aug. 10 for its annual free production of Shakespeare. This year's offering is the delightful comedy, 'As You Like It,' in which Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee the court when Rosalind's father is overthrown, taking refuge in the forest of Arden, where they find love, acceptance, and a new community. Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler will direct a cast featuring many Boston-area favorites and CSC veterans, including Nora Eschenheimer ('The Tempest,' 'Cymbeline') and Michael Underhill ('The Tempest,' 'Much Ado About Nothing'), Maurice Emmanuel Parent ('The Tempest,' 'King Lear'), John Kuntz ('Twelfth Night,' 'Macbeth'), Remo Airaldi ('Much Ado About Nothing,' 'Richard III'), and Jared Troilo ('Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol''). While audience members are free to bring blankets or chairs, or rent chairs on site, seats in the CSC Friends Section will be available in late May through a donation to CSC. THE SHARK IS BROKEN Play by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon. Directed by Guy Masterson, at the North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly, May 2-11. Tickets $45-$65. 978-232-7200,
South Wales Argus
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Guy Masterson to perform Under Milk Wood in Abergavenny
The globally acclaimed solo performance will take place at the Borough Theatre on Friday, May 9, at 7.30pm. Mr Masterson, who has performed the piece more than 2,000 times worldwide since 1993, brings to life all 69 of Dylan Thomas' characters from the fictional Welsh town of Llareggub. The show captures the beauty, humour, and pathos of a single day in the town, enhanced by a soundscape from Matt Clifford, known for his work with The Rolling Stones. The production is inspired by Mr Masterson's uncle, Richard Burton. This isn't Mr Masterson's first visit to Abergavenny; he last performed a one-man show, A Christmas Carol, in December. Tickets for Under Milk Wood are priced at £18 and can be purchased from the theatre's website or box office, or by calling 01873 850805.
