Filed under: Television
The 51-year-old actress, who stars on 'Law & Order: SVU,' is accusing her former business manager of swindling her.
The alleged culprit Joe Cilibrasi, who is not a certified accountant, is being accused of stealing $1.48 million from Tunie and classic music conductor Michael Stern to produce Broadway shows.
Cilibrasi was a financial backer of the Tony Award-winning musical 'Spring Awakening,' a show that Tunie was also a producer of. He also produced the Broadway show 'Legally Blonde' and is a producer on a forthcoming musical version of 'Bonnie & Clyde,' who is slated to open on Broadway in August. On Dec. 23, 2010, Cilibrasi pled not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to nine counts of fraud. He's being held on $100,000 bail.
Prosecutors claim that Cilibrasi wrote checks to himself from clients' accounts.
Hired by Tunie as her business
manager in the early 1990s, prosecutors believe by 2002 Cilibrasi had taken out a credit card in her name and used it to get himself a card by posing as her spouse.The McKeesport, Pennsylvania-bred actress is married - just not to Cilibrasi.
Tunie, who also starred on 'As the World Turns' for 16 years, has been married to singer Gregory Generet since 1995.
Tunie sued Cilibrasi in April 2010. Her court papers say the alleged thefts were discovered in early 2010 by a new accountant.
The actress has not commented on the ongoing suit.
Related Articles
- Sly Stone: Funk Icon Files $50 Million Lawsuit Against Former Manager
- Big Bill: Cuba Gooding Sr. Being Sued for $82,500
- Fear Factor: S. Epatha Merkerson Is Scared of Snakes
- Justin Guarini: 'American Idol' Star Is Broadway Bound