Stuart Ross, the down-on-his heels septaugenarian who brought the Surfs to the U.S. in the ’80s, was sentenced to at least two years probation today for a bizarre, $11 million extortion scheme against his son-in-law, London private equity giant David Blitzer.

Ross had pleaded guilty in August to demanding $5.5 million from Blitzer in return for having no more contact with Blitzer’s wife, who is Ross’s daughter, and another $5.5 million from Blitzer for having no more contact with Blitzer or his firm, the Blackstone Group.

Ross has tried repeatedly since then to withdraw that plea and re-assert his innocence, claiming he only admitted guilt so he could be sprung from Rikers, where he was undergoing what he termed as inadequate treatment for double pneumonia.

Ross left the courtroom today vowing to appeal Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Bonnie Wittner’s decision not to let Ross take back his plea.

“The only alternative I had was to sign the plea and I could leave immediately,” Ross said, insisting he never intentionally extorted anyone back in 2008. Ross’s lawyer, Matthew Myers, today called the threats, “alcoholic ramblings.”

Ross will undergo alcohol counseling as part of his sentence, and can’t contact the Blitzers, or his grandchildren, for at least eight years.

Until his indictment two years ago, Ross’s claim to fame was owning the North American rights to the bouncy blue Belgian cartoon creatures. The former investment made him millions — now lost, his lawyer says. He had been unable to post $200,000 bail before being sprung today.
Ross, originally of Aventura, Fla., suffers lymphonic leukemia and heart problems, said his lawyer. His co-defendant, lawyer Stuart Jackson, was acquitted this month of charges he helped in the scheme.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/

QUEENS, NY (WABC News) — A Queens teacher is under arrest Wednesday, accused of sexually abusing a student.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown says a 48-year-old teacher at a Springfield Gardens middle school, abused a 14-year-old boy in a classroom after school hours.

“The charges are very disturbing,” Brown said. “A classroom should always be a safe place for a child. If true, this teacher destroyed his student’s trust.”

The teacher, of the Hollis section of Queens, was employed as a teacher at Intermediate School. He was suspended during the pendency of the criminal case.

MSG Result: On June 23, 2009, after a two week trial, the teacher was acquitted of all criminal charges.

Attorney for the defense: Matthew D. Myers

Lift Foxy’s Ear-Bling In Catfight

BY TONY SCLAFANI

Tuesday, September 14th 2004, 6:48AM

A $250,000 DIAMOND-encrusted earring was snatched from the lovely ear of rapper Foxy Brown when she was attacked inside a rest room at a swanky Manhattan club, cops said.

The raunchy R&B star was knocked around at Show Nightclub in Times Square early Sunday after an argument with a woman cops identified as Tanya Manderson got physical, police sources told the Daily News.

She slugged the 25-year-old Brooklyn-bred diva in the right ear about 12:45 a.m., then yanked off the gaudy earring, the sources said.

Manderson allegedly took the earring and Brown’s purse and ran out of the W. 41st St. club with security guards close behind, the sources said.

She disappeared into a subway station at 42nd St. and Sixth Ave. before hurling the purse onto the tracks and giving the guards the slip. The purse was recovered, but not the earring.

Someone at the club knew Manderson, and cops hauled her into the Midtown South Precinct about 4:30 p.m.

Manderson, 35, of Fort Greene, was charged with robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.

MSG Result: Tanya Manderson’s case dismissed by the grand jury.

Attorney for the defense: Matthew D. Myers