John Stamos Target of Alleged Extortion Plot by a Michigan Couple
Actor John Stamos, star of "Full House" was the target of a failed extortion plot by a Michigan couple.
According to the Associated Press, the pair allegedly tried to blackmail him by threatening to sell photos of the actor to tabloid magazines unless he paid them $680,000.
Prosecutors have charged the couple and a federal criminal prosecution is pending.
On Dec. 3, Scott Sippola and Allison Coss were arrested on an extortion charge at an airport near Marquette, 450 miles north of Detroit. There, an undercover FBI agent identified in the affidavit as "Mr. X," posed as a representative of Stamos had arranged to meet them for a money drop.
"Mr. X" allegedly met Coss at a party while he was vacationing in Florida in 2004, according to the FBI affidavit.
The couple said the photos would harm Stamos' reputation if made public, according to the FBI affidavit. But no further details of the photos were released.
Stamos is the latest actor in a string of celebrities as previously discussed to be targeted for blackmail, including David Letterman and married couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.
Currently, Stamos, 46, is starring on Broadway in "Bye Bye Birdie." His also starred in TV roles on NBC's "ER" and the 1908's sitcom "Full House."
Stamos spokesman Matt Polk said in a statement the photos in question are of Stamos posing with fans. In addition, the photos will be made available to the public the at the conclusion of an FBI investigation.
During a search of the the couple's house in police turned up three photos of Stamos, paperwork containing the actor's name and cell phone number, and the phone numbers of three tabloid magazines.
Sippola and Coss were released on bond and ordered to have no contact with Stamos.