Federal prosecutors have reportedly launched a criminal investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers over allegations the team skirted the NBA’s salary-cap rules in connection with Kawhi Leonard.
The New York Times reports the probe comes after the NBA hit the Clippers with a $30 million fine, suspended team owner Steve Ballmer, and took away five first-round draft picks last week.
The Clippers denied wrongdoing to the NYT and say they plan to vigorously challenge the league’s findings and penalties.
We've reached out to the team … so far, no word back.
A Connecticut man is being charged after allegedly leaving his infant son in a hot car ... and the boy later died.
The East Windsor Police Department says they got a call from Kevin Pell last month, who told them he had left the boy in the car because he had been sleeping.
Pell had gone to work on his family's strawberry farm while the 1-year-old was in the car. He allegedly told police he came back to find the boy "blue and not breathing."
Rappers NBA Ben10 and OG3 Three were arrested Thursday morning in connection with a Texas shooting earlier this year, TMZ has learned.
FBI Houston Spokesperson Connor Hagen tells TMZ ... 6 people were arrested by the FBI and their partner agencies this morning in Louisiana and Texas ... including the rappers.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the arrests are related to a shooting at Confessions restaurant in Houston from back in April.
Perez Hilton is seriously motivated to sell his Las Vegas mansion ASAP ... so much so that the blogger just lowered the price of the six-bedroom home by $350,000.
Perez initially listed his Sin City house for $4.25 million back in June ... but the asking price on the 6,600-square-foot property is now down to $3.9 million ... a significant reduction.
As we told you ... when Perez initially put his Las Vegas house up for sale, he told friends he was very stressed about finances -- especially after moving to Miami, which limited his freebies.
5:31 PM PT -- Sexyy Red's lawyer Jason Lampert tells TMZ … “The claims asserted in this case are baseless and completely without merit. Red categorically denies these allegations and looks forward to defending herself in court.”
St. Louis rapper Sexyy Red could be on the hook for a $5 million default judgment in a case filed against her by her child's grandmother ... who claims the artist goaded fans on social media to beat her up!
Nicole Barnes claims that, in addition to sharing her address, Sexyy asked her large social media presence to "kick the door in" and conduct acts of violence at Nicole's home ... according to legal docs obtained by TMZ.
Nicole says she had to leave her home ... and that Sexyy's actions put her in immediate danger.
Late NBA star Jason Collins, who was the first openly gay player in the league, signed a will about how to handle his estate ... just months before announcing he had cancer ... TMZ Sports has learned.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, Jason left behind an estate with personal property totaling over $1.8 million ... although there could very well be substantial assets held separately in private trusts.
The docs included a will in which the late athlete said he left a written note in a safe-deposit box with instructions for the executor as to who should get his jewelry, watches, silverware, clothing, cars, and other personal effects.
Aaron Rodgers just dropped a bombshell about his failed relationship with Shailene Woodley ... claiming she told him she needed to "go f*** this guy" before they got married.
The NFL star aired some alleged dirty laundry about his former fiancée on his teammate Cam Heyward's "Not Just Football" podcast, claiming Shailene wanted to get one last hookup out of her system before they tied the knot.
And, get this ... Aaron says Shailene's story about their breakup doesn't line up with his version of events.
A sexy model in Florida allegedly turned a routine drive into a demolition derby ... and then bawled her eyes out when cops arrested her for DUI.
Check out the new YouTube collab between TMZ and the New York Post, "The Low Down," where we bring you stories that are gripping, outrageous, and sometimes scandalous.
Fake 49ers player Daejon Lovewas still decked out like a Niner when the feds finally caught up with him ... with TMZ obtaining video of his arrest outside Boise Airport.
Check out the backside on this stunning star! An animal-print bikini never looked so pleasing -- can you can name the babe in question who's doing the teasing?
She's a Netflix veteran -- she was a runner-up on "Too Hot to Handle" with race-car driver Seb Melrose. Are you her "Perfect Match?!"
Big update in theHayden Panettiere death investigation ... her boyfriend is talking to the DEA as it looks into the actress' suspected overdose, and TMZ has learned investigators are making progress.
Sources with direct knowledge of the investigation tell TMZ ... Brian Hickerson -- who was in the Greenville, SC condo when Hayden died -- has spoken with the federal law enforcement agency.
We're also told local and federal investigators believe someone sold Hayden drugs which might have caused her death, and that's the main focus of the investigation ... finding the dealer.
One source tells TMZ the authorities are "zeroing in on a potential drug dealer."
Johnny Bananas is throwing his full support behind CT Tamburello and Phaedra Parks' romance ... and he should know, since he competed alongside them on "The Traitors."
We got Johnny in Hollywood on Wednesday ... and the reality star, who calls CT a brother, told our photog CT and Phaedra weren't in a position to explore their relationship while filming the Peacock show ... but believes they've both since leveled up.
As for whether their romance is real ... Johnny says he's buying it and fully supports the couple. In fact, he joked he'll be "jumping out of the cake" at their wedding ... while acknowledging he may be getting ahead of the game.
Carmelo Anthony wanted no part of the Clippers drama ... laughing off our questions and reminding us he was at Fashion Week, not an NBA press conference.
A man who claimed he was robbed and beaten in a home invasion may have been squatting in the Hollywood Hills residence.
According to KTLA, the cops were called around midnight Thursday by a man who alleged five men attacked him after entering the home.
Cops said the suspects were inside the home and had a gun ... but said they were only inside for a few minutes before making off in a Jeep with a safe. They say they may have stolen some other belongings as well.
Tyra Banks wants to see exactly what her former friends Miss J and Jay Manuel said about her to Netflix ... even the parts that didn't air on the documentary about America's Next Top Model ... TMZ has learned.
In court docs, obtained by TMZ, the supermodel raises questions about producers' claim that the final doc released on Netflix was the product of "ordinary editorial decisions."
Tyra is suing the producers for defamation and seeking unspecified damages … claiming the producers only used 16 minutes of her 3-hour interview … and manipulated the footage to push a false narrative.
One of the claims Tyra took issue with was that she exploited a contestant's sexual assault on the show.
ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard was remembered at a private funeral service in Texas ... with family, close friends, bandmates, and crew members gathering to honor the rock legend ... TMZ has learned.
A memorial flyer for the service, obtained by TMZ, says the funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at Forest Park Southwest. The invitation describes the event as a celebration of Frank's life.
We're told the service was intentionally intimate ... with only family, friends, his ZZ Top bandmates and members of the band's crew in attendance.
