Ambulance driver, former Bahamas senator plead not guilty in Travolta extortion case

October 6th, 2009 Councilman pleads guilty in NJ corruption sweepNEWARK, N.J. — A northern New Jersey councilman has become the 45th person charged and the sixth to plead guilty in the state's largest corruption sweep.

October 5th, 2009 Dallas official guilty in bribery, extortion scamDALLAS — A federal jury has returned guilty verdicts against a Dallas City Council member accused of bribery and extortion. Former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill was convicted Monday of seven out of nine counts against him in a bribery and extortion scheme.

October 1st, 2009 Travolta attorney says he warned Bahamas defendantNASSAU, Bahamas — A lawyer for John Travolta testified Thursday that he warned a former Bahamas senator she would not get away with an alleged scheme to extort $25 million from the movie star. Attorney Michael McDermott said the defendant, Pleasant Bridgewater, contacted him by telephone and demanded the money on behalf of a paramedic who had treated the actor's 16-year-old son, Jett, following a seizure that led to his death.

September 30th, 2009 Travolta testifies Bahamas medic threatened himNASSAU, Bahamas — John Travolta has told a court in the Bahamas that a local paramedic threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son. Travolta testified that the paramedic who is now on trial for extortion demanded $25 million from the actor.

September 9th, 2009 2 ex-officials plead guilty in NJ corruption sweepNEWARK, N.J. — Two former Jersey City officials have pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, the first guilty pleas in a years-long probe that resulted in 44 arrests, including some state lawmakers, mayors and several rabbis.

June 10th, 2009 PA lawyer to plead guilty in $2.5M corruption caseHARRISBURG, Pa. — Federal prosecutors say a Pennsylvania lawyer who allegedly tried to cover up payments he made to a pair of judges in a $2.5 million corruption case will plead guilty.

May 13th, 2009 DA: Ex-students to plead guilty in La. hazing caseBATON ROUGE, La.

April 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The two suspects accused of trying to extort millions of dollars from John Travolta have pleaded not guilty in court. Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne and ex Bahamas senator Pleasant Bridgewater were alleged to have teamed up in a 25-million-dollar plot to extort money from Travolta and his wife over information related to their 16-year-old son Jett's death.

April 28th, 2009 Atty: Ga. soldier to plead guilty to desertionSAVANNAH, Ga. — The attorney for a Georgia soldier says he will plead guilty to deserting the Army.

April 23rd, 2009 LONDON - Hollywood actor John Travolta, who lost his 16-year-old son Jett in January, took a solo trip to Tahiti where he stayed over the weekend. Travolta, 55, flew in from Australia on April 18 in his private 707.

April 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - John Travolta, who lost his 16-year-old son Jett in January, reportedly jetted alone to Tahiti for the weekend. The 'Grease' actor allegedly piloted his private 707 to stay at the plush Intercontinental Tahiti resort in a deluxe room with breathtaking views.

February 24th, 2009 LONDON - Hollywood couple John Travolta and Kelly Preston have launched a charity in memory of their dead son, Jett. The family has set up the Jett Travolta Foundation on their website to 'assist and provide relief' to kids with physical, medical, emotional and educational needs, reports thesun.co.uk.

January 19th, 2009 LONDON - Hollywood actor John Travolta's 'Grease' co-star Olivia Newton-john has urged the media to leave the actor alone as he grieves the death of his son. The actress-singer has been in touch with the devastated star in the recent days, and now she is keen to keep the press away from Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, reported imdb.com 'I think it's time to leave people alone when they are grieving and just send him a lot of love.

January 5th, 2009 LONDON - Hollywood actress Kate Hudson took time out of promoting her latest film to offer her condolences to actor John Travolta and Kelly Preston after the tragic death of their teenaged son Jett. The star was walking the red carpet at the New York premiere of her latest movie 'Bride Wars' with Anne Hathaway Monday, when she approached reporters to offer a message of support to the grieving parents, reports contactmusic.com.

January 2nd, 2009 LOS ANGELES - The 16-year-old son of Hollywood star John Travolta died Friday while the family was vacation in the Bahamas. Jett Travolta, the son of John and his wife Kelly Preston, was found unconscious on the bathroom of the family's suite at the Old Bahama Bay Resort Friday morning, according to a police statement published by celebrity website TMZ.