Crime

"Tiger King" star Joe Exotic has retained a lawyer with ties to President Donald Trump ... and now he is hopeful for a pardon, TMZ has learned.

As you know ... Joe is currently locked up in federal prison in Texas, serving a 21-year prison sentence for a murder-for-hire plot to kill his nemesis, Carole Baskin, and for wildlife violations.

His new attorney, Peter Ticktin, went to military school with POTUS back in the day, and Joe and Peter seem confident they'll be able to work something out.

Ryan Wedding is facing new charges in the U.S. after the Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned transnational drug kingpin allegedly ordered the killing of a federal witness in Colombia, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

Wedding, 44, competed for America's neighbors up north in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, before allegedly turning to a different type of "snow," becoming Canada's largest cocaine dealer (moving over 130k lbs. a year) and controlling "one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in the world," according to the AG.

In a news conference in D.C. on Wednesday, Bondi, flanked by Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other top officials, outlined new charges against the retired athlete, and the accusations are wild.

Megan Thee Stallion's former manager took the stand in her defamation trial against blogger Milagro Gramz on Wednesday, telling the jury that the rap star's recovery was a pricey one -- costing her 6-figures' worth of therapy sessions!!!

Travis Farris -- AKA T-Farris -- testified that Megan spent $240,000 attending a 4-week therapy session to deal with the emotional distress she says she felt after Gramz made a string of posts ... one of which included a deepfake porn video believed to be real by many online.

Farris detailed in court about how Megan came to him in tears and even apologized for him having to witness the video, sparking her decision to undergo therapy.

D4vd is viewed as a suspect in the death of Celeste Rivas, the teenager who was found decomposing in his Tesla ... law enforcement sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ.

As far as we know, there is no paperwork classifying D4vd as a suspect, but as one of our sources told us ... "Investigators are looking at D4vd as a suspect."

We're also told they're viewing Celeste's death as a homicide, even though the Medical Examiner has yet to determine cause or manner of death -- investigators are still awaiting toxicology results.

Jeffrey Epstein's got a loose connection to Michael Jackson ... the attorney who asked Epstein in a deposition if he had an oval-shaped unit tells us he was taking a cue from a famous MJ trial.

Spencer Kuvin, the lawyer who grilled Epstein in the infamous 2009 deposition, tells TMZ ... he got the idea to question Epstein about his alleged "egg-shaped penis" from the King of Pop's kid-sex trial.

He says the prosecutor in the MJ case wanted to enter into evidence graphic photos of splotches on Michael's penis so an alleged abuse victim could identify the skin discoloration known as vitiligo. MJ had originally submitted to having the graphic photos taken during a 1994 investigation into whether the pop star molested a boy.

Shedeur Sanders isn't sweating his recent home burglary ... telling reporters he's not fazed one bit by the invasion of privacy -- especially because his jewelry is safe!!

The Cleveland Browns quarterback addressed the media on Wednesday ... fresh off the announcement he'd be getting his first official NFL start against the Las Vegas Raiders due to Dillon Gabriel's injury.

The rookie -- who had a less-than-stellar outing in the second half of the Browns' loss to the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday -- said he was in a good place mentally ... as he's "prepared for anything."

Federal authorities are continuing their investigation into the sudden death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival cruise ship -- and now they're zeroing in on a minor for possible criminal charges, according to a new filing.

The new development comes after Kepner's stepmom, Shauntel Hudson, recently filed a request to delay her court hearing in a custody case unrelated to the FBI probe into Anna's death, according to court documents.

In the family court filing ... Hudson states she's been informed by FBI investigators and her attorneys that a "criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action."

8:23 PM PT  -- Smokey's attorney Christopher Frost tells TMZ, "These plaintiffs are part of the same group of people who have conspired together against the Robinsons and are laying out their claims for maximum adverse publicity.

We have already explained in the Robinsons’ lawsuit against this group for defamation, civil conspiracy and elder abuse that, all along, this has been an organized, avaricious campaign to extract money from an 85-year-old legend. This group of people, who hide behind anonymity, and their attorneys seek global publicity while making the ugliest of false allegations."

Frost adds, "We have sought the Court’s intervention multiple times to require these anonymous individuals to divulge essential information, turn over relevant evidence, and to share deposition transcripts with the District Attorney. For obvious reasons, this group of Does and their attorneys refuse to be forthcoming with all the evidence possible to investigate their own claims. Once the public can see the truth, their avaricious motives and fabricated claims will be revealed.”

Smokey Robinson's newest sexual battery accuser is a man who claims the Motown singer once grabbed the guy's hand and tried to force it onto his erect penis.

Smokey is being sued by four Jane Does claiming they used to work as housekeepers for the music star and his wife, Frances Gladney Robinson ... and now two more alleged victims want to join the suit, a fifth Jane Doe and a John Doe.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the male accuser claims he started working for the Robinsons at their Chatsworth residence around 2013 ... he says he would clean and detail their cars early in the mornings and on numerous occasions Smokey came outside wearing only his underwear and would touch and fondle his erect penis in clear view of John Doe.

The guy claims "Smokey Robinson’s sexual arousal was vivid and unmistakable during these incidents." He also claims Smokey sometimes made sexually suggestive gestures and remarks towards him, including beckoning him toward a nearby room.

He says he would reject Smokey's alleged advances by telling him, "Put some clothes on."

The guy claims things escalated around 2022, when in one incident, Smokey grabbed the guy's hand "without consent and attempted to force it onto his erect penis."

After the alleged incident, the guy claims the Robinsons fired him. He says one year later, Smokey's wife requested he return to work and he did. He says Smokey went right back to appearing partially clothed, touching himself and making sexually suggestive remarks in his presence.

He claims Smokey's repeated sexual harassment, indecent exposure and unwanted physical contact resulted in humiliation, emotional distress, and ongoing fear for his safety and dignity ... and he says he stopped working for the Robinsons "after learning of similar conduct toward other victims and out of concern for his own well-being."

The new Jane Doe who wants to join the lawsuit claims she worked for the Robinsons as a housekeeper. She says on more than 10 occasions Smokey grabbed her hand and attempted to force her to touch his erect penis.

When the four women sued Smokey in May for sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and gender violence, his lawyer denied the allegations and chalked it up to a shakedown.

Tekashi 6ix9ine and Kodiyakredd of the Island Boys are denying rumors swirling around a home invasion at Tekashi's Florida home ... 6ix9ine tells us it wasn't staged, and Kodiyakredd says he's not one of the masked gunmen seen on video.

There's been tons of online speculation about the commotion at Tekashi's home this past weekend -- we first reported the home invasion -- and some folks are convinced Tekashi orchestrated it ... while others think Kodiyakredd was one of the men wearing ski masks.

Tekashi 6ix9ine tells TMZ ... the rumors are completely false.

The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office tells us miscellaneous items were taken from Tekashi's home but no vehicles were taken.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders had $200K in property stolen from his Ohio home during his NFL debut against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday ... officials tell TMZ Sports.

According to a new press release, three suspects wearing masks and gloves entered Shedeur's home around 6:46 PM. Surveillance cameras captured them making their way around several parts of the building.

Officials say the suspects then left the residence around 6:58 PM with "various property belonging to Mr. Sanders."

The incident is still under investigation ... but video of the alleged heist was shared via ex-NFL star Adam "Pacman" Jones.

As we previously reported, Sanders was busy getting his first snaps as an NFL pro ... taking over for fellow rookie and Browns starter Dillon Gabriel, who left the game with a concussion.

It wasn't the best outing for the former Colorado star ... throwing for 47 yards on four completed passes in the loss to the division rival.

After the game, Sanders admitted the performance was not up to his standard.

Girlalala was shot and killed over the weekend in Florida following an argument with her boyfriend that allegedly turned violent ... and a well-known rapper has stepped in to help cover funeral expenses.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, homicide detectives are investigating the fatal shooting, which took place in Lauderdale Lakes Friday night. Deputies found Girlalala in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died.

Authorities say the suspect -- Girlalala’s longtime boyfriend, Shanoyd Whyte Jr. -- was arrested at the scene, and a firearm was recovered. Investigators say the couple had been involved in a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation inside Whyte’s car.

A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder in the death of "Last Chance U" star John Beam ... officials announced Monday.

According to court docs, Cedric Irving Jr. admitted to shooting Beam at Laney College in Oakland on Thursday ... and had the handgun used in the disgusting act in his possession at the time of his arrest at the San Leandro BART station at 3 AM the next morning.

Beam was shot in the head and rushed to a nearby hospital ... but tragically, he died from the injuries he sustained.

Jack Doherty is spilling on his Miami arrest ... telling TMZ the whole thing was so mind-numbingly boring, he’s actually calling it the worst day of his life.

The embattled influencer tells TMZ it was a brutal slog -- first stuck in a tiny cell with a cop for five hours, then shuffled off for a mugshot and fingerprints ... before spending another 10 hours in a big holding room where he could finally make some calls.

The day didn’t even end there ... the 22-year-old says he got thrown into yet another cell, took a nap, and then got jolted awake by guards who, he claims, were super nice -- even telling him TMZ had already posted his mugshot -- before letting him finally go.

Rough Sunday for Shedeur Sanders -- not only was his NFL debut less than stellar, but police confirm to TMZ Sports his Ohio home was burglarized during the game.

Law enforcement said the break-in occurred while the NFL rookie quarterback took over for starter Dillon Gabriel, who suffered a concussion midway through the loss to the Ravens.

Police said no further details are being released at this time.

The executor of O.J. Simpson's estate, Malcolm Lavergne, stopped by "TMZ Live" Monday and admitted the estate doesn't have enough to cover Fred Goldman's $57 million creditor claim ... but he says they'll pay what they can.

Lavergne told us bluntly, "The reality is the estate currently doesn't have that kind of money and, practically, the estate probably will never have that kind of money."

So why did the estate accept the multimillion-dollar settlement? Lavergne explained it isn't based on how much Simpson's estate can afford, but whether the claim itself is valid.

The shooting of N.Y. Jets defensive back Kris Boyd appears to have been caught on video ... with the footage showing a group of men fighting in the streets before two gunshots ring out, leaving the 29-year-old in critical condition.

The clip was posted to social media Monday morning, and it shows just how chaotic the scene was around 2 AM on Sunday as the violent incident unfolded in the heart of New York City.

Moments later, gunshots are heard, sending both combatants and bystanders scurrying away from the scene. It's believed at least one of those shots struck Boyd in the abdomen.