CELEBRITY JUSTICE ™

Chris Brown claims he ain't no Michael Jackson -- meaning, he doesn't own a monkey (or a chimp!) ... and claims allegations he illegally harbored an adorable simian are pure apesh*t.

We broke the story ... the L.A. City Attorney is charging CB with 2 counts of having a restricted species without a permit claiming he kept a capuchin monkey named Fiji at his L.A. home back in 2017.

The allegations are serious, Brown could face up to 6 months in jail if convicted.

The supposed smoking gun is a video of Brown's daughter Royalty playing with Fiji in Dec. 2017 -- but sources close to Breezy tell us prosecutors got it all wrong.

Brown is adamant the video was NOT taken at his L.A. home -- it was shot in Vegas ... where the monkey lived with a relative who was the REAL owner.

Authorities ain't buyin' the excuse noting the animal was taken into custody in Los Angeles.

But, we're told Brown claims his relative happened to be in town with Fiji that particular week -- and it's all just a bad coincidence that makes Chris seem guilty.

He's due in court on February 6 where he'll plead his case to the judge. Stay tuned ...

Oh, and as for Fiji ... we're told she's been in protective custody and she's doing just fine.

Good news ... high school wrestler Andrew Johnson is doing well and in "pretty good spirits" after the haircut incident earlier this month -- but we've learned the family is still weighing their legal options.

Johnson has gone under the radar ever since the Dec. 19 wrestling match when referee Alan Maloney (who is white) told the 16-year-old black wrestler to either chop off his dreadlocks or forfeit the match.

But, a source closely connected to the family put it this way -- "Andrew is in pretty good spirits. He hopes for things to return to normal and he's looking forward to competing with his wrestling team again soon."

There are reports the family has already decided not to pursue legal action over the incident ... but sources with direct knowledge say those reports are inaccurate.

In fact, we're told the family is considering all options. One thing they want before making any decisions ... the findings of the NJ Attorney General's Division on Civil Rights. That Division is in the midst of its investigation into the incident.

Johnson's teammates at Buena Regional High School in New Jersey had a scheduled meet Thursday -- but Johnson did not participate because he's felt overwhelmed by the media attention.

Several huge stars have tried to reach out to Johnson to lend their support -- and some UFC fighters have offered to personally train him -- but it's unclear if Johnson has spoken with anyone yet.

As for the ref, sources connected to Maloney tell us he's adamant he was following the rules and race had nothing to do with the situation.

DMX can see the light at the end of the prison tunnel ... because we've learned he's going to be released in exactly one month.

DMX's attorney, Murray Richman, tells TMZ ... X will be released from Gilmer Federal Correctional Institution on Jan. 27, and he's excited about coming home to his family and resuming his rap and movie career.

DMX has a huge fam -- 15 kids to be exact -- and he's anxious to see his youngest son, 2-year-old Exodus Simmons, who we're told has had serious health problems.

Despite serving a 12-month sentence for tax evasion, DMX is still a wanted man in Hollywood. We're told X has been getting offers from movie producers for a biopic.

Some good news for DMX's music fans ... we're told X has been writing lots of songs in prison -- he's got plenty of time on his hands -- and he's planning on dropping a new album when he's released!

Justin Bieber is now free to return to Argentina after the country reversed its "No Biebs Allowed" policy ... so all you Beliebers in Buenos Aires can rejoice.

TMZ has learned JB can finally go back to Argentina without fear of being arrested for his alleged role in a beatdown of a photog way back in November 2013.

It's been a long and winding road in the legal system. A trial judge found Bieber guilty, but the case was appealed several times and ultimately the Argentinian Supreme Court reversed the conviction and cleared him.

A "Document of Resolution" was filed December 18 ... officially ending Justin's ban.

As you'll recall ... Bieber was indicted in December 2016 for allegedly ordering his bodyguards to assault a photog as he was leaving a club and take the guy's money and gear.

Kevin Spacey's lawyers tried to torpedo the sexual assault charge he now faces by trying to convince a judge ... a sexual assault victim does not let his assailant grope him for 3 minutes.

Spacey's lawyers went to court last week ... trying to get an order blocking prosecutors from filing charges ... on grounds of insufficient evidence.

According to the transcript -- obtained by the Boston Globe -- Spacey's lawyers argued the man -- who was 18 at the time -- did not report the incident to authorities the night it happened or even the next day. The lawyers say he wasn't interviewed in person for more than a year.

The alleged victim is the son of former Boston news anchor Heather Unruh, who publicly came forward last year, accusing Spacey of groping her son at the Club Car bar on Nantucket.

Spacey's lawyers say the alleged victim told cops he was the one who approached Spacey in the bar, eventually exchanging phone numbers with the actor. They also claim he lied about his age, saying he was 23.

The lawyers disclosed Unruh told cops he drank between 8 and 10 drinks -- beer and whiskey -- in a little over an hour and was so drunk he may have blacked out.

The lawyers' big point-- Unruh allegedly told investigators Spacey groped him for around 3 minutes, claiming he didn't move away from Spacey or tell him to stop. Attorney Alan Jackson told the judge, "That's an incredibly long time to have a strange man's hands in your pants, correct?"

The alleged victim told cops he couldn't easily move away because the bar was packed.

The alleged victim sent his girlfriend a Snapchat video during the encounter, but Spacey's attorney says all it shows is someone's hand touching another person's shirt ... but no groping.

However, according to court docs ... the GF claims the vid shows Spacey touching the front of the alleged victim's pants by his crotch.

The lawyers failed in their bid and Spacey was charged with felony indecent assault and battery.

Chris Brown might be better off with cats and dogs, because he just got slapped with criminal charges over his pet monkey ... TMZ has learned.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the Los Angeles City Attorney is charging CB with two counts of having a restricted species without a permit. The crimes carry a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail.

As you'll recall ... Chris got himself a baby capuchin monkey named Fiji, and he started taking major heat after posting a video of his then-3-year-old daughter, Royalty, playing with the exotic pet. People thought the wild animal posed a danger to his kid, but Chris told everyone to take a chill pill.

Our law enforcement sources say folks notified the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, who launched an investigation.

Breezy didn't have a permit for the monkey, so authorities got a search warrant and planned to raid CB's home, but he voluntarily agreed to surrender the exotic pet.

Chris is due in court Feb. 6.

The house of All That Remains guitarist Oli Herbert -- located on the property where he was mysteriously found dead -- might be on the foreclosure market soon.

As we reported ... the body of the heavy metal band's co-founder was discovered in a pond near his Connecticut home on October 16. Cops were dispatched to his residence after his wife reported him missing, and after searching the area ... found Herbert reportedly facedown in inches deep water at the edge of the pond.

According to reports ... the rocker hadn't paid the mortgage on his $132k home months before his death and, in June, docs were filed as a notice of foreclosure. Herbert didn't contest it, and last week attorneys for the mortgage company filed docs to immediately repossess the home.

His wife, Elizabeth, reportedly still lives there.

Herbert's death was ruled "undetermined" by the state's Chief Medical Examiner, who said it would remain that way unless new information is revealed.

Cops are still investigating.

Herbert was one of the founders of ATR and was their lead guitarist for 20 years at the time of his death. The band announced they'd likely name his permanent replacement in 2019.

Oli was 44.

Sofia Vergara doubts her ex truly lives in Louisiana -- where they're at war over 2 of their frozen embryos -- and now wants a court to force him to prove it.

The "Modern Family" star just filed a new motion in her never-ending legal fight with Nick Loeb, asking a judge to make him fork over documentation to confirm he's a real Pelican State resident, after allegedly refusing to cooperate with her lawyers' requests.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Sofia says Nick's claim that he's settled down in Plaquemines Parish, LA -- a pro-life state that recognizes embryos as human beings -- doesn't pass the smell test, because he hasn't ponied up convincing evidence to support it ... like grocery store receipts, or bank info from the area to show he's got a life there.

Sofia doesn't say it outright, but it's strongly implied she thinks he's full of it, and wants a judge to compel him to hand over paperwork to her legal team.

FWIW ... Nick's lawyers claim he rented a place in PP, LA and is registered to vote, but wouldn't tell us how often he stays at the property, if at all. He also set up a trust fund for the embryos, and has named them Emma and Isabella.

"Glee" actor Jesse Luken allegedly put his car through hell before getting busted for DUI.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Glendale cops got a call about a car crash. When they arrived on scene, they found Luken's Toyota up on the curb with the airbag deployed. There were no other cars involved. The right front tire was mangled.

We're told Luken -- who played the dirty blonde jock Bobby 'Boom Boom' Surette on the hit show and has tons of other TV credits to his name -- was in the driver's seat and reeked of booze. He took a field sobriety test ... which cops say he bombed.

Luken was arrested for DUI. He was booked and later released.

"Glee" cast members have had their share of problems. Mark Salling committed suicide while awaiting sentencing in his child porn case. Cory Monteith died of a drug overdose. Naya Rivera was busted for domestic violence.

We've reached out to Luken ... so far, no word back.

Rapper Juelz Santana hasn't started his prison sentence yet but he already knows what's waiting for him after he gets out ... several drug tests.

We got our hands on the terms of Santana's supervised release and he'll have to submit to a drug test within 15 days of tasting freedom ... according to the docs. He'll also have at least 2 more drug tests to complete ... the timing of those will be determined by his probation officer.

We broke the story ... the Dipset MC was sentenced to 27 months behind bars in his airport drug case. In addition to the testing, Juelz will have to enter a drug treatment program once he gets out.

Joe Giudice's last Christmas in America is shaping up to be bittersweet, because it means he's just months away from being deported ... but he also gets to chow down on some fancy fowl.

TMZ's obtained prison menus from across the country, and locked-up celebs are being treated to some pretty decent Christmas cuisine ... including individual Cornish game hens for both Joe and DMX.

Guys like Bill Cosby and Suge Knight aren't so lucky, but will still get their fill of meat, potatoes and dessert. As for Mystikal ... well, his meal's not so merry. Here's a breakdown of their options:

Giudice at Pennsylvania's FCI Allenwood Low prison:

- Cornish game hen or broccoli quiche, cornbread dressing, whole kernel corn, baked sweet potato, chicken gravy, cranberry sauce, salad, dinner rolls and pie.
- Christmas Eve is a bit more downscale ... just chili and cornbread.

The 'Real Housewives of NJ' star is doing time for fraud and will be deported back to his native Italy when he's released in March.

DMX at West Virginia's Gilmer prison:

- Cornish game hen, deli sandwich, PB&J sandwich and chips. Inmates also get a $50 bump in commissary funds for December to use on chocolates, cookies and peanut cluster bars.

X is serving 12 months for tax evasion.

Cosby at Pennsylvania's SCI Phoenix:

- Roast beef, bean burger, whipped potatoes, gravy, green beans, creamy coleslaw, dinner rolls and baked fruit pie. Zero Jell-O.

Cosby got 3 to 10 years for sexual assault.

Suge Knight at California's Wasco State Prison:

- Turkey or chicken, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, salad, veggies, cranberry sauce and ice cream.

Suge struck a plea deal in September in his murder case and started a 28-year sentence.

Mystikal at Louisiana's Caddo Correctional Center:

- 2 turkey dogs, potato salad, greens and cake. In other words, nothing special.

UPDATE: 5:23 PM PT -- Dr. Dubrow sent us his statement, saying it is "incredibly rude of TMZ to run a story like this on Xmas Eve. The bad karma is incredible."

Dr. Terry Dubrow is famous for fixing plastic surgeries gone wrong on his reality TV show, but one of his recent patients claims he's responsible for screwing up her breast implants ... this according to a new lawsuit.

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ, Tina Andrade claims the "Botched" star performed her breast implant surgery in October 2016, but Dr. Dubrow did such a poor job she's in need of a second surgery to fix the damage.

In the docs, Tina claims she went to Dr. Dubrow's practice in Newport Beach for the surgery, and instead of getting a better bust, Tina claims Dr. Dubrow improperly placed and installed her breast implants.

Tina is suing Dr. Dubrow for negligence and medical malpractice, and she's seeking damages for lost wages, physical and psychological damages, and medical expenses.

Adrien Broner is rocking over a million dollars worth of bling, but he's never paid for his ice because he bounced checks to the jeweler and still owes the bill ... this according to a new lawsuit.

Pristine Jewelers NY says the boxing star promised to pay for multiple jewelry orders totaling $1.252 MILLION, but his checks haven't cleared and he's refusing to follow through on a payment plan.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, Adrien told the jeweler he would pay for his bling after his April fight against Jessie Vargas, but the jeweler has only been able to collect $100k from Broner ... leaving an unpaid balance of $1.152 million.

It's been over a year since Broner first ordered his bling, and Pristine wants the boxer to pay up now and throw in another MILLION in punitive damages.

Broner has a big payday in his future, because he's fighting Manny Pacquiao January 19 in Vegas. Problem is ... the jeweler claims Adrien has already stiffed them after one big fight.

11:35 AM PT -- TMZ has obtained a copy of the criminal complaint against Spacey ... and it's disturbing and graphic.

In the docs, the alleged victim told police Spacey started buying him drinks after he got off work at Club Car bar, Spacey asked the teen about his penis size, tried to get him to come back to Spacey's house for an after party, and Spacey reached through his pants and touched his penis.

According to the docs, the alleged victim told a woman at the bar he thought Spacey "is trying to rape him," before running out the back door and going home.

In the docs, the alleged victim tells Spacey he's not gay and has a girlfriend. The alleged victim also claims to have video of Spacey touching him.

Kevin Spacey is facing a felony charge for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage boy in Massachusetts back in 2016, according to authorities.

The alleged incident happened at a Nantucket bar in July '16, and authorities told the Boston Globe that Spacey is due to be arraigned Jan. 7 at Nantucket District Court on a charge of indecent assault and battery.

The alleged victim's attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, tells TMZ ... "The complainant has shown a tremendous amount of courage in coming forward. Let the facts be presented, the relevant law applied and a just and fair verdict rendered."

The alleged victim's mother, Boston TV news anchor Heather Unruh, described the alleged incident in an emotional news conference in Nov. 2017 ... publicly accusing Spacey of sexually assaulting her son. Unruh claims Spacey got her 18-year-old son drunk at a bar, stuck his hand inside her son's pants and grabbed his genitals. After the alleged incident, the Unruh family filed a police report.

Spacey posted this bizarre video on his personal YouTube channel Monday, and the timing is interesting. In the video, he appears to be reading a monologue as his old "House of Cards" character Frank Underwood. Spacey also tweeted the video, his first tweet since October 2017.

Spacey has previously been accused of trying to molest a 14-year-old actor, and Spacey is currently under investigation in Los Angeles in another sexual assault case.

We've reached out to Kevin's attorney, Todd Rubenstein. So far, no word back.

Jimmy Bennett has yet to file a police report against Asia Argento for allegedly sexually assaulting him when he was 17 and cops haven't been able to reach him ... so the case is on ice.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... officers have tried contacting Bennett several times, but he's gone radio silent. Jimmy was last heard from in September when he sat down for an interview on Italian television, and got skewered by the host over his claims ... especially when he admitted to ejaculating.

We broke the story ... Bennett, who's now 22, vowed to go to the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. weeks before his TV appearance to file a sexual assault report against Argento.

We're told he never did, though ... nor has he indicated he still wants to.

As you'll recall ... Argento and Bennett had a sexual encounter in a Marina Del Rey hotel room back in 2013. Bennett snapped a photo of the then 37-year-old in bed with him, shirtless, after they allegedly had intercourse.

Argento, however, claims it wasn't consensual because Bennett jumped on her and she was "frozen."

Bennett later threatened legal action over the incident and, in April, Argento settled with him for $380,000 ... which her late boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, paid.

It's a crime in California for an adult to have sex with a person under 18, and the maximum penalty for statutory rape in a case like this is 3 years in prison. It's a moot point, though ... unless Bennett contacts police.

Target now has a target on its back ... Vans is suing the retail giant for straight-up jacking its iconic shoe.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... Vans is super pissed Target just started selling shoes eerily similar to the "Old Skool Shoe" it introduced back in 1977. Target's "Camella Lace-Up" shoe hit the market in August.

Vans claims Target's shoe features a similar jazz stripe. Vans also alleges Target intentionally copied the distinctive look because it knew it would create confusion so the knockoffs would sell. Vans notes Target's own customers refer to the copycat shoes as "fake Vans" on Target's website.

Vans wants the copycat shoes destroyed. It also wants all profits Target has made off the kicks.

Reps for Target tell us they're aware of the lawsuit and, "Have a deep appreciation and respect for design rights." They say their vendor is looking into the claims.