Last updated: Sunday, September 30, 2007

CRUISE EXTORTIONIST FOUND DEAD

The man who tried to extort $1 million (GBP500,000) from TOM CRUISE and his wife KATIE HOLMES over stolen wedding photographs has committed suicide in Phoenix, Arizona.

KATIE HOLMES and TOM CRUISE

David Hans Schmidt, 47, was due to be sentenced on 11 October (07) for the crime after pleading guilty in August (07) to transmitting threatening communications with the intent to extort.

But Lieutenant Anthony Lopez, spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department revealed on Saturday (29Sep07) that Schmidt - who was being held on house arrest until sentencing - was "found dead in his home around 3pm Friday".

Cops visited his house after noticing his ankle monitoring bracelet had not moved. Schmidt, who has been dubbed the 'Sultan Of Sleaze' for peddling sex tapes of Paris Hilton and Colin Farrell, is believed to have taken his own life after suffering from depression.

He faced up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a substantial monetary fine when he was due back in federal court.

Cruise married Holmes in November 2006 in an Italian castle in Bracciano, near Rome. The Hollywood couple sold the photo rights exclusively to three celebrity publications.

Related News:

- DOWNEY JR TO TAKE ON CRUISE'S VAMPIRE ROLE
- WOMAN ALLEGES SHE AND JACKSON PARENTED CRUISE'S ADOPTED SON
- CRUISE & DIAZ TO PLAY LOVERS IN COMEDY
- FASCINATING FACT:
- CRUISE CONSIDERS BROADWAY BOW
- CRUISE TO RETURN TO DAYTONA FOR 500 RACE
- CRUISE STILL THRILLED ABOUT 20-YEAR-OLD NASCAR FILM
- GALLAGHER DENIES CRUISE CONFRONTATION
- CRUISE QUIZZED OVER FLATULENCE HABITS ON U.K. TV
- CRUISE'S PROPERTY ADVICE

Source: WENN

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