If you've ever wondered how Amazon can get packages to people so damn fast, get a load of this ... it might just answer your question.
TMZ got footage of a remote location just east of L.A. where the online retailing giant stashes hundreds of delivery vans ... literally at the ready in a hillside dirt parking lot. Check out the clip, it's an impressive sight ... rows upon rows -- each at least 100 deep -- of vehicles parked side-by-side.
BTW, this isn't Amazon going rogue and plopping its fleet in a random open space -- like much of L.A.'s real estate lately ... Jeff Bezosis paying for this space. Although, he didn't buy this one yet ... Amazon's just renting.
Ya gotta figure Amazon has similar hidden storage spots all over the country.
Naturally, that might lead to more criticism of Bezos himself, who's been grilled lately for not being quick enough to offset Amazon's massive carbon footprint on the environment. Ya still gotta give him credit for recently starting a new Earth Fund with billions of dollars of his own cash.
That said, some are still waiting on him to ditch gas-guzzling rides, and go full electric -- or finally start drone deliveries. 🤷🏽♂️
Another parent involved in the college admissions bribery scandal is going to be locked up for a while ... this time it's an heiress to the Hot Pockets fortune, who pled guilty to trying to cheat her daughters' way in.
Michelle Janavs was just sentenced to 5 months in prison for paying $100,000 to the scheme's mastermind, Rick Singer, to help her 2 daughters cheat on college entrance exams ... and agreeing to pay another $200k for one of her daughter's to be set up to look like a beach volleyball recruit to get admitted to USC.
Before hearing her sentence, the judge made it clear Janavs had caused harm to the U.S. system of higher education ... and prosecutors blasted her, claiming she held an "attitude that she is untouchable" and "no one could stop her." Her lawyers asked for no jail time, but the judge wasn't buying it.
Prosecutors didn't get nearly what they wanted ... they recommended 21 months, calling her one of the "most culpable parents" charged in the case who refused to accept responsibility for her actions until months after she was busted. Unlike other parents who pled guilty right away, she was also hit with a money-laundering conspiracy charge.
Her defense team went to bat for her, though, arguing for more than 45 minutes that she's a "generous and selfless" person who's "the rock of her family." It also mentioned a time she dressed up as "The Candy Monster" while visiting kids to talk about childhood hunger.
Janavs' lawyers had previously suggested she's just a loving and devoted mother who fell victim to Singer ... and pointed to her history of philanthropy and devotion to her family in urging the judge to not send her to prison.
In the end, however ... it didn't work.
The Hot Pockets heiress now joins several other parents to receive time behind bars in the scandal, including Felicity Huffman ... who got 14 days in her deal. Others have received sentences ranging from probation to 9 months behind bars.
Grammy-winning singer Duffy is emerging from years of obscurity to make a startling revelation -- she's been trying to recover after getting drugged and raped.
The "Mercy" singer said she was finally ready to discuss her virtual public disappearance since 2011 when she'd released her second album. She says, "The truth is, and please trust me I am OK and safe now, I was raped and drugged and held captive over some days."
Duffy, who had not posted anything on IG since 2017, doesn't lay out exactly when the crime happened or where. But, it sounds like more details will be coming shortly.
The singer says she discussed the ordeal with a journalist, and the interview will be coming out in the following weeks. Duffy said, "If you have any questions I would like to answer them, in the spoken interview, if I can. I have a sacred love and sincere appreciation for your kindness over the years. You have been friends. I want to thank you for that."
Duffy, of course, won the best pop vocal album Grammy for "Rockferry" in 2008. That same year she was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Mercy."
As for why she didn't express her grief through music -- Duffy said, "You wonder why I did not choose to use my voice to express my pain? I did not want to show the world the sadness in my eyes. I asked myself, 'How can I sing from the heart if it is broken?' And slowly it unbroke."
1:25 PM PT -- Jeudy went to Twtter to address his jewelry ... saying "Don't mean no disrespect to the Jewish people! I'm sorry to the people who take my chain offensive!!"
He's never been Bar Mitzvah'd. He doesn't fast on Yom Kippur. So, why is Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy rockin' a Star of David around his neck at the NFL Combine?
"My last name's Jeudy. People sometimes call me [Jew for short]."
OY VEY!!!
Long story short ... Jeudy really likes his "Jew" nickname and decided to cop himself some "jew"elry to let everybody know!
"My last name's Jeudy, people sometimes call me 'Jew' so I got a Jewish star. I'm not Jewish though." - Jerry Jeudy on why he wears the Star of David around his neck pic.twitter.com/Ta3hy3K1Hf
Tokyo 2020 could be CANCELED over the coronavirus -- so says a senior Olympic official who says postponing or moving the games to another country is probably out of the question.
With 80,000 people reportedly infected with the virus -- and 2,600 deaths -- people are concerned a massive international gathering like the Olympics could accelerate the spread. And, with the Games set to kick off in late July, athletes and fans want to know if there's a backup plan.
Enter Dick Pound -- a senior member of the International Olympic Committee -- who told the Associated Press a total cancelation IS on the table.
"In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: 'Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?'" Pound said.
And, if officials determine it's too dangerous to move forward, "You’re probably looking at a cancellation."
That being said, Pound is urging athletes to continue training as usual -- because the current plan is to HAVE the Games in Tokyo as scheduled.
"As far as we all know, you’re going to be in Tokyo. All indications are at this stage that it will be business as usual. So keep focused on your sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation."
The Olympics have only been canceled in modern history as a result of war -- the Games were called off in 1916 for WWI and both the 1940 and 1944 Games were axed because of WW2.
There was a scare about the Games in 2016 because of the Zika virus outbreak at the time, but the event ultimately went on as planned.
Remember when Odell Beckham was handing out wads of cash to LSU players after winning the national championship??
Turns out, that act of kindness just helped a good cause ... because Justin Jefferson says he donated the moolah to his local church!!
Of course, giving money to college players is the biggest NCAA violation of them all ... and JJ says he had to meet with the org.'s compliance department to get the situation sorted out.
Jefferson spoke about the infamous incident at the Combine on Tuesday ... saying, "We knew he shouldn't have done it," according to Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, Les Bowen. "It was in the heat of the moment."
The money created a HUGE headache for LSU -- a school rep initially claimed the dough was fake. And then, superstar QB Joe Burrow blew that theory out of the water when he told Barstool Sports the cash was as real as it gets.
LSU self-reported the incident to the NCAA -- and the players involved are not expected to be hit with serious punishment.
But, pro tip ... maybe keep the cash in your pocket next time, Odell?!
Monday they were mourning. Tuesday they were trying to cash in.
Several people who attended the Kobe Bryant memorial at Staples Center are selling souvenir items from the event ... from ticket stubs to program booklets ... and the asking price is in the THOUSANDS of dollars.
We've already found a handful of listings on eBay from people selling their memorial pins, shirts and other items. Most of the listers claim they personally attended the event.
The average starting bid for the Kobe Memorial bundles are around $3,000 -- with a $5,000 "Buy It Now" price.
One seller listed an official Kobe shirt (size XL) from the memorial -- and after receiving 76 bids, it sold for $2,025!
Remember, most fans were only able to get tickets to the event by entering a random drawing. If they were selected, they had the option of buying tickets for either $24.02 or $224 each, with the money going to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Some fans flew from around the country to be at the event -- and they could be selling the giveaways to help offset the travel costs.
Other people feel it's BAD FORM to auction off items from a memorial event -- and those people have been very critical of the sellers.
One thing is for sure ... Kobe items are in huge demand right now -- from autographs to game-worn jerseys and even his 8th-grade yearbook. And, as long as there are people willing to shell out the cash, there will be no shortage of supply.
Meghan Markle's dad is pissed at the way she's treating Queen Elizabeth, and the entire Royal Family, but he isn't surprised -- in fact, he claims it's just her MO.
Thomas Markle was out Monday at an Office Depot in Rosarito, Mexico, when he was asked if his daughter has the right to use the term "royal" as part of her brand. He unloaded on Meghan and Prince Harry, for that matter, flat-out saying they "don't have a right to speak to the Queen the way they've spoken to her."
He was clearly referring to Harry and Meg's claim the Queen has no ownership of the word "royal" ... after she blocked them from using it in their Sussex Royal brand.
Pops Markle didn't stop there ... he went on to say Meghan's disrespecting the British people as a whole, and then got very personal. You gotta see it, because it's clear there's a ton of bad blood over how he feels Meghan's treated him, her mother and, yes ... the Windsors.
As we reported, Thomas said he will NOT stop making money off his, albeit strained, relationship with Meghan and his connection to the Royal Family. It's pretty clear he's on the Queen's side post-Megxit but this is about as raw Thomas has ever been.
So much for that whole blood thicker than water stuff. Not so much in Markle clan.
Kobeand Gigi Bryant's family along with those of the 6 other passengers on the doomed aircraft ... may all end up suing Island Express -- which owned the helicopter -- but aviation attorneys tell us there won't be enough money to go around.
Sources familiar with Island Express tell TMZ, the company had liability insurance coverage totaling $50 million. Our sources say that's not an unusual figure, but given the number of people Island Express transports on a single helicopter and the fact rich celebrities used the service ... the number is low.
Our sources say a more appropriate amount of coverage for the company would have been closer to $100 million. As we reported, Kylie Jenner -- a 22-year-old billionaire -- also recently took the same Island Express helicopter that crashed.
Vanessa Bryant is asking for both compensatory and punitive damages. In terms of compensatory damages, Kobe's family alone might be entitled to hundreds of millions of dollars because his earning potential was enormous. On top of that, punitive damages could take a judgement into the stratosphere.
And, remember, other passengers left behind spouses, children, and promising professions, and they'd be entitled to untold millions as well.
The question ... with hundreds of millions of dollars in possible payouts, who gets what out of a $50 million pot? Fact is, judges have a tremendous amount of discretion in the decision how to distribute insurance proceeds in such cases.
So far, Vanessa Bryant is the only family member who has sued, but our sources say some of the other family members have already lawyered up. More lawsuits are certain to come.
As for Island Express, it seems inconceivable it will remain in business. Matt Drummelsmith, president of Aviation Specialty Insurance, tells TMZ, given the fact the crash was almost certainly caused by pilot error, it's highly unlikely the company could get insurance again and that puts them out of business.
Jamie Foxx says "Just Mercy" -- the movie he stars in with Michael B. Jordan -- is more than just a movie ... because it's inspiring some real-world change for the better.
We got the actor -- who plays wrongly condemned death row inmate Walter McMillian in the film -- outside Mr Chow Monday night in Bev Hills. He tells us since the movie -- which is based on a true story -- came out, 100 lawyers have gone to Alabama to work pro bono to save people from death row.
Jamie says it's no coincidence, they're following in the footsteps of the film's hero, Bryan Stevenson -- a lawyer and social justice activist, played by MBJ in "Just Mercy." Foxx says the role speaks volumes about Jordan's commitment to elevating black culture.
As Jamie puts it ... Michael B. Jordan can do any movie he wants, but he chooses ones that speak to his people and shine a light on important issues.
Foxx says there's still a lot of work to be done and, despite criticism, it's still important to do "the slave movie." Watch and let him explain.
Pete Davidson is taking a brand new swipe at Louis C.K., claiming he's a mean dude who treats young comics poorly and adds ... it's been "amazing" to watch his career crumble.
The 'SNL' star spoke with Charlamagne tha God about his upcoming comedy special on Netflix, which includes a pretty vicious shot at Louis -- Pete flat-out calls him a "piece of sh*t."
Now, PD admits his animosity stems from C.K. allegedly trying to get Pete fired from 'SNL' for smoking too much weed. He claims Louis tried to rat him out -- but beyond that, he says Louis is simply "not a nice guy."
Pete thinks his point is supported by how shunned C.K. was in the comedy community after he admitted years of sexual misconduct and abuse of his power.
Interesting to note ... Louis C.K. has been making a comeback of sorts recently, and briefly addressed his #MeToo scandal during a series of shows in Phoenix this past weekend. Not that we think that's gonna change Pete's opinion.
On another note -- although not a positive one -- Pete also talked about possibly leaving 'SNL,' saying ... "I personally think I should be done with that show because they make fun of me on it. I’m like, cold open, political punchlines. I’m like, weekend update jokes."
He says he's outgrown the gig and added, “I have a weird feeling in that building where I don’t know whose team they’re playing for really, if I’m the joke or I’m in on the joke.”
Still, he says Lorne Michaels is a father figure to him and he'll stay "as long as Lorne likes me"
That's how it went down at Spring Training in West Palm Beach on Monday when the Houston Astros star made his first plate appearance since the cheating scandal.
Altuve didn't seem fazed by the chilly reception -- in fact, the guy hit an RBI double against the Detroit Tigers all by himself without any help from high-tech cameras and trash cans!
There was another awkward moment in the game ... Altuve was technically hit by a pitch -- though it was truly accidental. He was clipped in the foot by a breaking ball in the dirt.
Remember, Astros manager Dusty Baker has expressed concern about pitchers throwingat Altuve and other Houston players involved in the cheating scandal -- he doesn't want vigilante justice.
But, again, that didn't seem to be the case this time around ... but it's a loooong season.
5:22 PM PT -- Harvey Weinstein was taken to a hospital shortly after being taken into custody because of chest pains. He's expected to be transferred to Rikers Island once he's treated.
UPDATE
11:16 AM PT -- Rotunno and Weinstein's attorney Damon Cheronis tell us, "While he was not convicted on the most serious charges, we are disappointed in the verdict and will be filing an appeal. There are issues in this trial that were extremely troubling, and they prejudiced Mr. Weinstein's ability to have his case fairly judged. These will be addressed to a higher court."
UPDATE
They continue, "In the meantime, we are working on assuring that Mr. Weinstein is brought to Rikers' Island's North infirmary unit at the Anna M Kross center complex or in protective custody so that he can get the best medical supervision and care possible.
UPDATE
9:58 AM PT -- Weinstein's attorney, Donna Rotunno, tells TMZ, "We knew going in it was an uphill battle from the beginning. The verdict is bitter sweet. An appeal will be filed, this fight is not over."
UPDATE
Rotunno also says they requested that Weinstein be placed in a medical facility inside the jail while he awaits sentencing. However, it is ultimately up to the Dept. of Corrections where he ends up.
UPDATE
9:39 AM PT -- Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance just spoke to the media and made it very clear ... Weinstein's convictions -- even on just 2 out of 5 counts -- are absolutely a success in his eyes, and not a failure by any stretch of the imagination.
Vance praised all of the women who testified in the case, saying they changed the course of history with their participation and stories ... and helped bring the criminal justice system into the 21st century in the fight against sexual violence.
UPDATE
He went on to say what was made clear is that rape is rape, and sexual assault is sexual assault -- whether someone reports it in an hour, a year or never ... and despite the relationship a victim may have with his or her attacker.
UPDATE
Bottom line for Vance ... he says there's a new landscape on how to look at these cases, and it's all because the women in this case were heroic enough to take the stand and speak. He says Weinstein will be behind bars for a minimum of 5 years, and his office will take that as a victory ... even though life in prison was potentially on the line on the more serious counts.
UPDATE
UPDATE
Vance's hope with this case is that victims of sexual abuse will come forward and report, and know they will be believed ... and that justice will be pursued on their behalf. It doesn't appear Weinstein's legal team took the opportunity to address the press Monday.
UPDATE
9:14 AM PT -- Weinstein was remanded into custody following the announcement of the verdicts. He will remain behind bars until his March 11 sentencing hearing.
Harvey Weinstein is guilty of 2 of the 5 charges he faced in his NYC criminal trial -- but he was found not guilty on the charges that could have put him in prison for life.
The jury found Weinstein guilty of 1st-degree criminal sexual act and 3rd-degree rape. He could get up to 25 years in prison just for the criminal sexual act. However, the jury found him not guilty on 2 counts of predatory sexual assault charges. Those carried a possible life sentence. He was also acquitted of 1st-degree rape.
A jury of 12 people -- 7 men and 5 women -- finally reached their verdict after 5 days and about 22 hours of deliberations. This comes after an interesting turn on Friday ... when the jurors sent a note to the judge asking if they could be hung on 2 counts of predatory sexual assault and unanimous on the others.
The judge told them to go back deliberations, and they worked it out by Monday morning.
As we reported ... Weinstein pled not guilty to 5 felony charges relating to sexual misconduct. The charges were based on the accounts of 2 women ... Miriam Haley, a TV and film production assistant who worked on "Project Runway," and former actress Jessica Mann.
The prosecution rested its case 2 weeks ago after 12 days of witness testimony. In total, 6 women testified against Weinstein, including Haley and Mann. Last Tuesday marked the start of jury deliberations.
As we reported ... Mann testified under oath that Weinstein began manipulating her as soon as he met her, allegedly forcing himself on her multiple times and raping her at a hotel in Manhattan.
Weinstein's defense argued he had a consensual relationship with Mann lasting for years after the alleged sexual assault. He maintained all sexual conduct was consensual.
During closing arguments, Weinstein's lawyer, Donna Rotunno, ripped into the prosecution, saying prosecutors, "created a universe that strips adult women of common sense, autonomy and responsibility," arguing Weinstein's accusers acquiesced to sex because they thought it would advance their careers.
However, Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon countered in her closing argument, saying Weinstein's accusers “were merely ants that he could step on without consequences.”
The disgraced Hollywood mogul felt he couldn't get a fair trial in New York, claiming the jury pool was tainted ... but the case proceeded.
John 'Sonny' Franzese, Sr., an Italian-American mobster who served as a Colombo crime family underboss and even had his finger in the movie biz ... is dead.
Franzese was an organized crime wheeler and dealer for decades, but he also dabbled in film. Franzese helped finance the '72 iconic porn flick, "Deep Throat." BTW ... it cost $22k to produce and grossed as much as $50 million. He also helped finance "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre."
Sonny served as an underboss of the Colombo family from 1964 to 1967, when he was sentenced to 50 years for bank robbery. He was paroled in '78 but prison became a revolving door. He went back and forth 6 times for crimes that included extortion.
He may have done worse ... in 2006, he talked about techniques for mob murders with a man who turned out to be a secret government informant who was wired. One of the things he said ... he put nail polish on his fingertips before murdering someone to avoid leaving fingerprints at the scene of the crime ... of course, to blunt DNA testing.
Interesting fact ... His son, John Franzese, Jr., testified against him in one of the trials. It marked the first time the son of a New York mobster turned state's evidence on his dad.
Sonny died in a nursing home in upstate New York. One of his daughters was by his side when he passed. We're told he died of natural causes.
Sonny was dubbed "The nodfather" for falling asleep during one of his trials.
When he was released for the last time in June 2017, he was the oldest federal inmate in the U.S. at age 100.
Franzese was born in Naples, Italy in 1917. He and his family moved to NYC when he was a child. He had 8 kids and 18 grandchildren.
UFC superstar Israel Adesanya admits he took the trash talk too far by using a 9/11 reference about Yoel Romero ... and now he's apologizing.
Adesanya was promoting his upcoming clash with Romero at UFC 248 when he told the media ... "I'll touch him enough times and eventually he'll crumble like the Twin Towers."
Obviously, 9/11 similes don't go over with the public -- and the backlash was swift and severe.
But, Sunday night, Adesanya apologized for the comment -- explaining he didn't mean to disrespect anyone ... he just screwed up.
Clint Eastwood is doing a flip-flip of sorts ... endorsing former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg instead of President Trump -- whom he supported in the run-up to the 2016 election.
Dirty Harry gave his thoughts on this year's candidates to the WSJ, saying on this year's competition ... "The best thing we can do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there." Clint doesn't appear to elaborate beyond that, but did have something to say about DT.
CE says he wants Trump to act "in a more genteel way, without tweeting and calling people names." He adds, "I would personally like for him to not bring himself to that level."
What's interesting, of course, is that Clint -- a well-known Libertarian -- said he'd have to choose Trump over Hillary if it came down to it, back in August 2016 ... and while it wasn't an official endorsement, it was clear where his allegiance was during that cycle.
Now, he's backing a Dem -- who used to be a Republican for a while, BTW -- although it's unclear why. Funny enough, Bloomberg has tried positioning himself as a solid establishment Democrat, who'd further Barack Obama's policies and follow in 44's footsteps.
Of course, Clint skewered Obama at the 2012 Republican National Convention when Mitt Romney was selected as the party's nominee, talking to an empty chair on stage during his speech that he likened to BO's presidency at the time ... empty (in his eyes, anyway).
Seems he's down to head in that direction these days.
