Developing Stories

As we first reported ... the L.A. County Sheriff's Department is conducting what we're told is a "serious" extortion investigation. Our law enforcement sources tell us investigators have "numerous" emails, texts, documents and witness statements that could lead to criminal charges.

If the D.A. files extortion charges against Oksana ... sources familiar with the case tell us it virtually forces her to take the Fifth -- in other words, she'd refuse to testify against Mel Gibson because what she says could incriminate her.

Although the D.A. often prosecutes domestic violence cases with uncooperative alleged victims ... sources involved in this investigation tell us Oksana's testimony is critical, particularly because the physical evidence is shaky. For starters, we've already told you about her dentist changing his story, not reporting the alleged violence to authorities and failing to get pictures that show injury.

We're told the D.A. considers the two investigations "connected." If the D.A. files extortion charges, our sources say there's a good chance it could flat-out torpedo a domestic violence prosecution.

And ... if the D.A. decided not to file an extortion case against Oksana to preserve a domestic violence case against Mel, his lawyers would have a field day in court.

The plot thickens.

Katy shot a segment for the show -- which was supposed to air on New Year's Eve -- in which she sings a cleaned-up version of her song, "Hot N Cold" with Elmo.

The song made its way to YouTube Monday and racked up nearly a million views. But some parents started complaining her cleavage was too front and center. We've learned producers have decided not to air the song on the show.

Among the parental comments:

-- "You can practically see her t*ts. That's some wonderful children's programming."
-- "they're gonna have to rename it cleavage avenue"
-- "my kid wants milk now"

Fact is ... what looks like Katy's bare chest is actually covered in flesh-colored mesh that goes all the way to her neck.

In the email Oksana tells Mel she played one of the secretly-recorded messages from February 18 to her lawyer.

Oksana says, "As far as the tapes go, I only played one to my lawyer, becouse on march 15 Michelle proposed on ur behalf not a very generous gift for our daughter and there was nothing for me."

Oksana adds, "My lowers also told me that Tom Hansen [one of Mel's lawyers] said I wouldn get a penny ..."

Although that sounds like Oksana is trying to use the tape to squeeze money out of Mel, one of her current lawyers, Daniel Horowitz, tells TMZ Oksana was extremely reluctant to play her lawyer the tape but felt threatened by Mel's legal team.

Horowitz cites this portion of the email, "My lowyers warned me that ur lawyers are cabaple of false fabrication about me in the press, i.e., an unfit mother, a prostitute etc so u can have the baby and I get to go to my 'f...ing moth hole' as u told me. I had no choice, after all of this I had to play one message to them."

And Oksana continues in her email to Mel, "The messages we r talking about I kept on my phone purely for u, to c how scared we were and for u to understand what this have done to us, how painful these words were, but hopeffuly, eventualy to help us. That was the only reason."

Daniel Horowitz tells TMZ, "Oksana was legally entitled to play all of the tapes for her lawyers and most clients would have done so. She was being supremely careful of Mel's privacy because she knew that even lawyers in Hollywood might lose track of the tapes and she didn't want to hurt him."

Horowitz continues, "This is the opposite of extortion. It's someone in love who wants things to get better."

We've learned the second test Lindsay failed showed a positive reading for Adderall, but the L.A. County Probation Department is not recommending jail time for that violation -- because there is an ambiguity in the paperwork that went from the court to the Probation Office.

The Probation Department is recommending 30 days jail time for the first failed drug test which showed a positive reading for cocaine.

Now here's where it gets interesting ... Judge Elden Fox has a couple of options on Friday. He could sentence Lindsay on the spot to 30 days in jail for the cocaine violation ... but because of overcrowding Lindsay would be released the same day.

Judge Fox's other option is to deny her bail, throw her in jail and set a hearing that would take place 30 days later. Under this scenario, Lindsay would not be released early -- she'd sit in jail for 30 days until her hearing. We're told judges do this "all the time" when they want to make sure a defendant does the time.

Friday should be interesting.

TMZ has obtained a copy of the letter -- handwritten by Mel -- and in it he says, "I'm so ragged I could drink or commit a crime. The anger seems to be out of my control -- I need to do something about it something lasting -- not just a band aid."

In the undated letter -- which sources connected to the case tell TMZ was written in December 2008 -- he says, "I don't know why I'm so whacky and depressed but I need to get well and re-enter life. Please don't be upset I've gone -- I'm just not myself and feel bad when I am so f**ked up and sick around you."

Mel goes on: "I don't want to inflict this unhealthy version of myself on you."

Mel theorizes, "Maybe it's some kind of male menopause -- or Brian's s**t." We're told Brian is Mel's holistic doctor.

Japanese Immigration officials denied Paris entry into their county because of her guilty plea to cocaine possession this week.

Japan frowns on people who get convicted of drug offenses, so Paris -- seen above at the airport a few hours ago -- is on her way back to the US of A.

Before getting the boot, Hilton was detained at the airport yesterday for more than 6 hours.

A rep for Hilton says "Paris is very disappointed and fought hard to keep her business commitments and see her fans, but she is forced to postpone her commitments in Asia. Paris understands and respects the rules and laws of the immigration authorities in Japan and fully wishes to cooperate with them. Paris looks forward to returning in the future to a country she loves and has been coming to for the past 10 years.”

Among the points Horowitz hit with Meredith Vieira:

- Oksana didn't sell the secret audio tapes of her phone conversations between her and Mel Gibson.

- Oksana didn't leak letters or emails -- but they know who did.

- The tapes would be worth at least a million dollars and Oksana is broke.

We broke the story ... Lindsay tested positive for both cocaine and amphetamines.

And this is interesting ... our sources say the D.A. will not make a recommendation when Lindsay appears in court Friday AM.

Lindsay could get 30 days for each failed test.

Oksana's email was sent less than 2 hours after she received an email from Mel in which he called himself a "f**king failure." TMZ has obtained copies of both Mel's email and Oksana's response.

Oksana emails on her iPhone, "Please don't torcher urself like that, please!!!! U dint do anything to be so hard on urself. U r amazing man and always will be in my eyes and I will make sure Lucy knows it."

Oksana's email was sent nearly 2 months after their blowout argument on January 6, in which she claims Mel knocked two of her teeth out. Sources say Oksana told Sheriff's investigators in March she was in mortal fear of Mel and felt he was a danger to Lucia.

But Oksana's email goes on: "U r an anusually extraordinary person. Ur versitile talent speaks louder than the words! U r capable to make a masterpiece about jesus and to build the church for him! U r just one person, but u did this! In itself it's a lifetime wearthy atchivements, but for only chosen one."

TMZ obtained Simon Barney's mug shot. He's in the process of divorcing Tamra, and sources tell us they were arguing over their dog when Simon allegedly threw the dog's leash at Tamra and hit her wrist.

Courtney showed off her refurbished doll parts at a premiere in NYC last night.

The 46-year-old may have lost a daughter, but she's gained some new things too.

The 27-year-old was pulled over in his Range Rover in NY at 5:15AM for having tinted windows -- but police smelled alcohol. Edwards blew a .16.

He's currently in custody.

NY Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum says "We are very disappointed in Braylon's actions this morning ... We are reviewing the information with the league and will impose the appropriate disciplinary measures." Tannenbaum also said Edwards is aware the Jets provide a car service for all their players.

Edwards was at a charity event Monday night hosted by his teammate Jerrico Cotchery. Several other Jets players were also there.

The Sitch and Karina Smirnoff groused that they only had 5 days to practice before cha-cha-ing.

The clock is ticking, Sitch.

In the email -- sent from Mel's iPhone nearly two months after their domestic incident -- Mel writes, "I really am losing my grip. I desperately need a solution. Sorry it has to affect you. I can't stand anything any more ... I'm stuck."

Mel continues, "I try to be ok but it overpowers me & i'm (sic) something I don't want to be. It's a primal scream thing. The pain is too great & everywhere I turn is making it heavier. Oh to have peace! Oh to have joy. Oh to be able to provide it for another. I'm a f**king failure."

In another iPhone email dated March 7, 2010, an apologetic Mel wrote to Oksana, "I felt a high degree of agitation in you when u left tonight. I'm sorry. I guess I'm in a process of being torn down so I can rebuild."

The email goes on ... "I love you ... I was terrified of where we were going & my outbursts & the potential for damage."

And the morning after the January 6 blowout fight ... Mel sent Oksana an email asking, "How's your tooth?" That email was followed an hour later by another from Mel to Oksana, which read, "I want to tell you how uspeakably (sic) sorry I am."

After finally admitting she might need to seek financial help to keep a roof over the heads of her 14 kids -- Nadya Suleman told a photog, "I'll do whatever I can ... as long as I'm fully clothed."

Suleman was clearly referring to the $500,000 offer from Vivid Entertaiment -- in which the porn company claimed they'd fork over a check in exchange for one XXX Octo-scene.

TMZ has obtained the police report from the incident, in which LVMPD officials state a bathroom attendant at the Hard Rock Hotel informed security "there was a man in the bathroom stall with possibly a man using drugs."

According to the report, the attendant went on to say he could "see a male in a striped red shirt with a baggy of white powder substance."

Once law enforcement officers made their move -- cops say they asked Bruno to "give over whatever narcotics he had." According to the report, Bruno then "pulled out a white powder substance, which was consistent with cocaine, from his left-front jeans pocket."

Cops say Bruno --aka Peter Hernandez-- "admitted he did a foolish thing and has never used drugs before."

The report shows ... once the substance "came back positive for cocaine," Bruno was shipped off to the Clark County Detention Center and booked for possession of narcotics.