Oprah Sued for $180M in Extortion Case

Louisiana man claims false charges and FBI arrest damaged his reputation
By Rebecca Smith Hurd
Posted Oct 23, 2008 8:37 AM CDT
Oprah Sued for $180M in Extortion Case
In this Aug. 30, 2008, file photo, Oprah Winfrey speaks in Whitesboro, NJ.   (AP Photo/MJ Schear, file)

A Louisiana man is suing Oprah Winfrey and the FBI for $180 million for falsely accusing him of extortion and damaging his reputation, Access Hollywood reports. Keifer Bonvillian was arrested in 2006 after recording conversations with—and accepting money from—a Harpo Productions employee. The extortion charges were dismissed after Bonvillian agreed to community service, drug testing, and restitution. A Winfrey lawyer denies the allegations.
(More Oprah Winfrey stories.)

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