Hollywood Producer Scams a Congressman

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May 19, 2006 11:04 AM

A Hollywood producer claiming to be creating a new primetime drama based on the Department of Homeland Security pled guilty this week to defrauding investors of over $5 million.

Joseph Medawar told investors that his show, "DHS: The Series," had the support of the Bush administration. It did not. Medawar did, however, get the support of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntingdon Beach, CA), who thought the show would improve the image of DHS.

Rohrabacher's spokesperson said the Congressman, in the "interest of lending accuracy to the idea," introduced Medawar to Congressman Chris Cox, then the Chairman of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and others in Washington, DC.

Medawar also paid $23,000 to Rohrabacher for an option on a screenplay the Congressman wrote years ago. Rohrabacher's office said today that the money will be returned to Medawar's investors and that the Congressman was "shocked" when he heard about the charges against Medawar.

Medawar's girlfriend, Alison Heruth, also plead guilty earlier this year to lying about the scam. Heruth claimed to be the lead actress in DHS.

Medawar spent the investors' money on a lavish Beverly Hills lifestyle which included a Jaguar XJ8 and $40,000 rent on a Beverly Hills mansion.

Click here to view a trailer for "DHS: The Series."