Dismissed: Oprah's Alleged Extortionist Tells His Side of the Story

Keifer Bonvillain wanted $1.5 million and he wanted Oprah Winfrey to give it to him. That's what most of the news reports say, but Bonvillain said he never wanted to extort Oprah. He only wanted to write a book.

Last week, federal prosecutors dismissed extortion charges stemming from an ongoing incident that ended December 15, 2006. In return, Bonvillain agreed to maintain steady work or school for a year, perform fifty hours of community service, and pay $3000 restitution for the cost of the investigation.

Two years ago, Bonvillain met Todd Davis, the former manager of Harpo Studios' California offices, in an internet chat room. Davis was looking for someone to finance his film, and he said Bonvillain gave the impression he was wealthy and interested. Bonvillain claimed he only said he had friends who might be interested.

Despite the miscommunication, the two became friends and when Davis started complaining about his boss, Oprah Winfrey, Bonvillain began secretly taping their conversations.

According to Davis, the conversations were nothing more than normal employee complaints, but Bonvillain said the tapes, which are currently under court seal, contain some "very shocking stuff" about Oprah's private life.

In October 2006, he sent an email to Oprah to tell her that Davis, who had signed a lifelong confidentiality agreement with Harpo Studios, was badmouthing her. Oprah didn't respond.

On November 17, after accumulating twelve hours of taped conversations, complete with what he calls "explosive" information, Bonvillain faxed Harpo a list of questions for Oprah. That was when Bill Becker, general counsel for Harpo Studios, called him and asked what he wanted.

In an interview with Radar Online, Bonvillain said he told Becker that tabloid magazines had offered him up to $500,000 for the tapes, but he had decided to write a book instead. He told Becker he didn't want anything except to give Oprah a chance to respond to the allegations he was about to make. Becker asked for excerpts from the tapes and Bonvillain complied.

According to Radar Online, Harpo Studios became vicious after listening to the excerpts. They threatened to sue Bonvillain and destroy his character if he didn't turn the rest of the tapes over to them. Bonvillain refused, saying he still intended to write the book. Then he began secretly taping his conversations with Becker, and when the threats continued, he hired a lawyer.

Becker's threats softened a little after that, and he started negotiating with Bonvillain to purchase the book rights. In return, Bonvillain would have to agree to turn over all the tapes and the notes he had taken.

Bonvillain wasn't sure about the deal. He consulted his lawyer, who told him the transaction was legal. Still unsure, Bonvillain asked his lawyer to bring in a mediator, who also assured him he was doing nothing wrong. But before the deal could be made, Bonvillain ran out of money and had to fire his lawyer. On December 12, he began dealing directly with Becker.

In portions of taped conversations he turned over to Radar Online, Bonvillain can be heard asking Becker for reassurance that what they were doing was legal.

"I did not want it to be perceived in any way shape or form that this is extortion...," he can be heard saying. "I need to know-do you feel as though you're being extorted? Because if you feel that way, it's best that I keep an attorney involved and move forward with him."

Becker replied, "Well, I don't feel that way right now, and there's no reason why I guess I have to feel that way."

They agreed that they were just trying to reach a settlement, and the negotiations began. According to Radar Online, Bonvillain said Becker offered $1.7 million. Bonvillain felt that was more than the information was worth, so he countered with $1.2 million and settled at $1.5 million.

They set up a meeting for December 15 at the Marriott Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. The tapes were to be destroyed and the money exchanged, but when Bonvillain showed up, the FBI arrested him and charged him with extortion. Four months later, prosecutors agreed to deal with Bonvillain and dismiss the charges.

The deal doesn't prevent Bonvillain from publishing the book. The FBI seized all his tapes and transcripts when they arrested him, but Bonvillain said he has copies the FBI didn't find. He plans to release an e-book as soon as possible.

SOURCES:

"Feds drop Oprah extortion charges," CNN, May 2, 2007
URL: http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/05/02/oprah.extort.ap/index.html

"The Oprah Winfrey Tapes," Radar Online, April 11, 2007
URL: http://www.radaronline.com/features/2007/04/the_oprah_winfrey_tapes_1.php

"Oprah's Extortion Charge Withers," Radar Online, May 1, 2007
URL: http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/05/oprah-winfrey-harpo-keifer-bonvillain-extortion-the-oprah-tapes.php