Aaron Tonken

Former Hollywood fundraiser Aaron Tonken was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison Monday for defrauding donors and underwriters of star-studded charity galas he organized. Tonken, 38, pleaded guilty last year to one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud. As part of a plea agreement, Tonken received the minimum sentence of 63 months in prison from U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer in Los Angeles. The fundraiser also was ordered to pay about $3.8 million in restitution.

A middle-aged man in a neon orange polo shirt and baggy blue gym shorts sat at a conference table in West Hollywood one recent afternoon interviewing a prospective ghostwriter. "It's called 'Redemption,'" said Aaron Tonken, the man with the story to tell. "It's going to be big. " When Tonken was marched off to federal prison six years ago in a charity fraud scandal that embarrassed a slew of A-list celebrities, it was difficult to imagine him returning to Hollywood, let alone persuading a major literary agency to shop a book and movie deal about his life.

Celebrity fund-raiser Aaron Tonken, facing a federal criminal charge and a state investigation into his operations, is suing Elton John's AIDS foundation, MTV star Sharon Osbourne and two others for money and perks he alleges he is owed for work on a March fund-raiser. The event at Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne's home raised $700,000 for John's foundation as well as Sharon Osbourne's colon cancer foundation. Tonken alleges he had an oral contract to work as a consultant.

Former Hollywood fundraiser Aaron Tonken was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison Monday for defrauding donors and underwriters of star-studded charity galas he organized. Tonken, 38, pleaded guilty last year to one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud. As part of a plea agreement, Tonken received the minimum sentence of 63 months in prison from U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer in Los Angeles. The fundraiser also was ordered to pay about $3.8 million in restitution.

A middle-aged man in a neon orange polo shirt and baggy blue gym shorts sat at a conference table in West Hollywood one recent afternoon interviewing a prospective ghostwriter. "It's called 'Redemption,'" said Aaron Tonken, the man with the story to tell. "It's going to be big. " When Tonken was marched off to federal prison six years ago in a charity fraud scandal that embarrassed a slew of A-list celebrities, it was difficult to imagine him returning to Hollywood, let alone persuading a major literary agency to shop a book and movie deal about his life.

Federal officials filed a criminal complaint Thursday charging celebrity fund-raiser Aaron Tonken with one count of mail fraud and connecting him with check-kiting by a former executive of Stan Lee Media. In an affidavit, a federal agent said Tonken used money earmarked for a never-held fund-raiser honoring Diana Ross to help Stephen Gordon cover checks in a scheme that defrauded US Bank and others.

Aaron Tonken, who organized some of Hollywood's glitziest charity and political fundraisers, is expected to plead guilty to two federal criminal counts for defrauding donors and underwriters, prosecutors said Friday. Assistant U.S. Atty. Joseph Zwicker confirmed the anticipated plea as charges were filed accusing Tonken of mail and wire fraud. Authorities said hundreds of thousands of dollars earmarked for charity events "instead went into the pockets of Tonken and others."

About a year ago, 150 celebrities and power players gathered at the Beverly Park estate of rocker Rod Stewart for cocktails, Wolfgang Puck food and sassy stage banter from the likes of "The Practice" star Camryn Manheim. The aim of the $1,000-a-plate event: to raise money for three charities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's Inner-City Games. But in the end, none of the $260,000 raised at the soiree would find its way to any of the three philanthropies.

Only a decade ago, a 26-year-old high school dropout named Aaron Tonken was living in Chabad's Westwood homeless rehabilitation shelter, with his nose pressed against the glass of a glamorous Los Angeles that seemed to have no place for him. He had no car, no education and, seemingly, no prospects. But Tonken, as he tells the story, was consumed by a craving for contact with celebrity. As a troubled teenager in northern Michigan, he liked to cold-call famous people.

A federal inquiry into the activities of celebrity fund-raiser Aaron Tonken is examining his involvement with a $1-million Hollywood political event for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign, according to people familiar with the investigation. The inquiry raises the stakes in a longstanding controversy that has pitted Bill and Hillary Clinton against some of their most dogged critics who have publicly questioned the source of underwriting for the gala.

Fundraiser Aaron Tonken, awaiting sentencing for fraud, is seeking bankruptcy protection from a long list of creditors that is expected to include screen stars, ex-U.S. presidents and a roster of Hollywood players. An attorney for Tonken said the request for protection under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code was being filed Monday. The petition is expected to list debts of $10 million to $50 million.

Roseanne Barr sent me a nasty note. Bill Cosby wrote a smart-aleck letter to the editor. Paul Anka called to set me straight. I should write about celebrities more often. All of this had to do with a column I tapped out following a story by my colleagues Michael Cieply and James Bates about celebrities who grab wads of cash and gifts for parading their famous mugs at charity fundraisers. I'd be upset, too, if I'd been exposed like that.

Fundraiser Aaron Tonken pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal felony charges that he defrauded donors and underwriters of Hollywood charity galas he organized. With his guilty plea to one mail fraud count and one wire fraud count in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Tonken, 38, admitted that he diverted money that donors and underwriters believed was going to charities into shell bank accounts. Tonken is cooperating with authorities in a wide-ranging probe of the Los Angeles charity circuit.

State Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer is proposing new laws regulating charitable fundraising, including one requiring that charities disclose how much they pay celebrities who agree to appear at fundraising events. The reform plan comes in reaction to the scandal involving celebrity fundraiser Aaron Tonken, who was expected to plead guilty today in Los Angeles to two federal fraud charges.

Almost any night of the week around Los Angeles, one charity or another holds a glitzy fundraising benefit, backed by a Hollywood star. But many celebrities appear at these events not solely out of the goodness of their hearts. They come to line their pockets.

Aaron Tonken, who organized some of Hollywood's glitziest charity and political fundraisers, is expected to plead guilty to two federal criminal counts for defrauding donors and underwriters, prosecutors said Friday. Assistant U.S. Atty. Joseph Zwicker confirmed the anticipated plea as charges were filed accusing Tonken of mail and wire fraud. Authorities said hundreds of thousands of dollars earmarked for charity events "instead went into the pockets of Tonken and others."

Fundraiser Aaron Tonken pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal felony charges that he defrauded donors and underwriters of Hollywood charity galas he organized. With his guilty plea to one mail fraud count and one wire fraud count in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Tonken, 38, admitted that he diverted money that donors and underwriters believed was going to charities into shell bank accounts. Tonken is cooperating with authorities in a wide-ranging probe of the Los Angeles charity circuit.

Fundraiser Aaron Tonken, awaiting sentencing for fraud, is seeking bankruptcy protection from a long list of creditors that is expected to include screen stars, ex-U.S. presidents and a roster of Hollywood players. An attorney for Tonken said the request for protection under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code was being filed Monday. The petition is expected to list debts of $10 million to $50 million.

About a year ago, 150 celebrities and power players gathered at the Beverly Park estate of rocker Rod Stewart for cocktails, Wolfgang Puck food and sassy stage banter from the likes of "The Practice" star Camryn Manheim. The aim of the $1,000-a-plate event: to raise money for three charities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's Inner-City Games. But in the end, none of the $260,000 raised at the soiree would find its way to any of the three philanthropies.

A federal inquiry into the activities of celebrity fund-raiser Aaron Tonken is examining his involvement with a $1-million Hollywood political event for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign, according to people familiar with the investigation. The inquiry raises the stakes in a longstanding controversy that has pitted Bill and Hillary Clinton against some of their most dogged critics who have publicly questioned the source of underwriting for the gala.