Alleged Crawford Extortionist Surrenders to German Cops
Tried to blackmail model with pictures of her daughter: Cops
Updated 1:15 PM EDT, Tue, Nov 17, 2009
A former model who was wanted for allegedly threatening to release a picture of Cindy Crawford's daughter bound to a chair and gagged in exchange for $100,000 turned himself into German cops.
Edis Kayalar, 26, surrendered late Monday in Stuttgart and was charged with one count of extortion in the U.S., the Associated Press reported. He faces up to two years in prison is convicted.
According to court papers, Kayalar repeatedly asked former super model Crawford and her husband to hand over cash in exchange for what he claimed to be a "sexy" photo of their daughter. In July, Rande Gerber, Crawford's husband, met with Kayalar who explained that he had stolen the photo from the daughter's former nanny and threatened to sell the photo to the tabloids, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Gerber gave Kayalar $1,000 "for his trouble" and took the photo, according to court papers. When Kayalar, an illegal immigrant, called again demanding more money for what he claimed to be another copy of the photo, Los Angeles authorities arrested him and he was deported in September. But his demands continued from Germany where he asked for $100,000.
Crawford and Gerber said the photo was taken by the fired nanny during "a purported game" when their daughter was 7-years-old and they pledged to "pursue any and all available legal action against anyone who aids the perpetrator in the distribution or sale of the photograph of their daughter," according to the Los Angeles Times.
Kayalar will appear before a judge Tuesday who will rule on whether he will remain in detention.
First Published: Nov 17, 2009 11:47 AM EDT
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