Master magician David Copperfield keeps a warehouse in Las Vegas, which he calls his "International Museum & Library of the Conjuring Arts", where he stores tricks, memorabilia, and ... um, about $2 million in cash. So what were the 12 FBI agents looking for when they raided the warehouse late Wednesday night?
Whatever it was, the feds aren't fessing up as to what it's all about. But they probably couldn't believe their eyes when they found the illusionist keeps that much cash in his stash - along with about 80,000 items of posters, magic books, Houdini memorabilia, antique cars, gadgets, and magic devices.
"The investigation is related to a Seattle case. The Seattle case is pending and that means we can't say anything about it," a spokesman said.
Copperfield's Las Vegas attorney, David Chesnoff, added fuel to the rumors when he told FOX News that possible sexual abuse claims against the illusionist were "false".
Fox News dug further and are reporting that a woman in Seattle told police there that the magician raped her while she was in the Bahamas. Because the alleged incident happened abroad, Seattle authorities turned the case over to the FBI. Apparently, no rape kit was done on the alleged victim in the Bahamas, and that will make prosecution difficult.
And what the heck does the stuff in his Vegas storage have to do with a rape in the Bahamas?
KLAS-TV reported that the items the agents were interested in and seized were a computer hard drive, digital camera system, and the nearly $2 million in cash from a safe at the warehouse.
The popular Copperfield, 51, does regular shows in Vegas. He's been performing at the Hollywood Theater at the MGM Grand casino-hotel on strip in six- to eight-week stints several times a year. Copperfield feats have included escaping from Alcatraz prison and (seemingly) making the Statue of Liberty disappear.
