The man known as Kim Dotcom -- formerly Kim Schmitz until he legally changed his name -- is under arrest in New Zealand for alleged money laundering, racketeering and breach of copyright.
He’s the founder of MegaUpload.com -- a site the FBI says has cost copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue. CNN reports the arrest happened ...
“At a swank mansion in Auckland, NZ, a vintage Cadillac and high-end vehicles worth millions are hauled away.”
Indeed, he was arrested in something that seems out of a movie -- helicopters and 76 officers swooped in on his $24 million home -- during his extravagant 38th birthday party -- and police had to break into Dotcom’s safe room -- where he had hidden, holding a gun.
He’s being called ‘Dr. Evil’ by The Daily Mail, which reports...
“Police seized millions of pounds, a vast collection of luxury cars and sawed-off shotguns …”
Police took more than $9 million in cash, artwork and big-screen TVs. TIME has a by-the-numbers breakdown of Dotcom’s wealth -- the FBI estimates he made more than $42 milllion in 2010 alone.
“$12,000 : The alleged cost per day of the Hong Kong luxury hotel room hosting Megaupload’s main office. $4.9 million : The estimated worth of the 18 cars seized … 15 Mercedes-Benzes, a pink 1959 Cadillac, and a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe worth more than $400,000. His license plates told a tale of pompousness, reading KIMCOM, HACKER, STONED, GUILTY, MAFIA, GOD and POLICE.”
Dotcom founded Megaupload in 2005. Now, he’s awaiting trial, and possible extradition to the U.S. Who’s his attorney? The same guy who defended in Bill Clinton against those sexual harassment charges.
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