Nov 13, 2009 7:13 pm US/Eastern
Cindy Crawford Target Of Extortion Plot
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Hotel owner Rande Gerber and model Cindy Crawford arrive at the AFI FEST 2009 screening of the Weinstein Company's 'A Single Man' on November 5, 2009 in Hollywood, Calif.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
She is a former super model and part of a New York power couple, but Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber are now targets of an extortion plot.
The plot involves the couple's young daughter. Authorities said former German model Edis Kayalar repeatedly threatened to sell a racy photo of the girl to a tabloid unless they paid up.
In a court affadavit, authorities said that in July, Kayalar told the couple he had a sexy photograph of their daughter, in revealing clothing, bound to a chair and gagged. Gerber, who called police, met with Kayalar and gave him $1,000.
However, Kayalar threatened again, saying he still had a copy of the photo. He was deported to Germany and convicted of extortion. Even so, he now sent threats to the couple by e-mail, demanding $100,000 or he would sell the photo.
Crawford, once one of the world's super models, has in recent years moved off the catwalk to raise her family in privacy. That, some say, makes this case even more of a shock.
"Cindy Crawford has been known for keeping her kids out of the limelight so I think it was a surprise in that you don't hear (about them) too much," said Juliet Izon, reporter for US Magazine.
The photo was stolen from the girl's former Nanny, whom Kayalar dated. She said she took the picture as part of a cops and robbers game. According to the affadavit, Kayalar told police she showed him the picture, and told him, "do you know how much this picture is worth?"
So far, she has not been charged.
The FBI said the investigation is continuing.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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