Two have been arrested in connection with an attempt to extort money from
John Travolta and his wife
Kelly Preston after their son,
Jett, died of a seizure in the Bahamas on Jan. 2, 2009.
Former Bahamian senator Pleasant Bridgewater
Former Bahamian senator
Pleasant Bridgewater, and ambulance driver
Tarino Lightbourne have been accused of trying to extort money from the couple by threatening to expose details of Jett's death that would make them look like bad parents. Lightbourne had been quoted in many news stories describing John Travolta's actions in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Travolta and Preston have not commented on the case, but family attorneys Mike Ossi and Howard Butler issued a statement:
"Regrettably in a time of such terrible grief there are often a few individuals who attempt to make false claims in hopes of making millions of dollars. We will never let that happen."
Bridgewater resigned from the Bahamian senate Saturday after the charges were brought against her. If convicted, she could serve up to eight years in prison.
More from
E Online:
The FBI is lending a hand—or, more accurately, an ear—into the alleged extortion plot of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, with special voice-analysis experts assisting Bahamas police with the case, E! News has exclusively learned.
The specialists were needed, law enforcement sources say, because the police inquiry is now centering on "sensitive" phone conversations that allegedly took place between Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater, who quit her parliament post after being charged with abetment and conspiracy to extort over the weekend, and lawyers for Travolta.