Actress Pleads Guilty To Covering Up Investment Scam Related To Phony Dept. Of Homeland Security TV Show

Press Release, Sep 13, 2006

Los Angeles, CA - Alison Ann Heruth, who claimed to be the lead in a television series to be based on the United States Department of Homeland Security, pleaded guilty this afternoon to concealing an investment scam related to the show.

Heruth pleaded guilty to a felony count of misprison of a felony, admitting that she made false statements to investigators looking into a scheme allegedly orchestrated by her co-defendant, Joseph M. Medawar. That scam allegedly involved Medawar’s production company, Steeple Entertainment, Ltd., and a phony Department of Homeland Security TV show that they told investors would be called "DHS."

In her guilty plea, Heruth admitted that when she met with investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service in April 2005, she made false statements in an effort to cover up the scheme. Specifically, the 41-year-old Heruth admitted that she lied to investigators to conceal her knowledge that Medawar was lying to investors to attract money for Steeple; that Medawar was lying to his investors when he said Steeple had the endorsement of President Bush; that Medawar was lying when he represented that the actual Department of Homeland Security had approved of the use of its name and seal for the TV show; and that investor funds were being diverted for the personal use of Heruth and Medawar, including home rentals, jewelry, child care, food and entertainment, and automobile leases.

Heruth pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Manuel Real, who is scheduled to sentence her on July 17. At sentencing, Heruth faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in federal prison. Read more at usdoj.gov