Jackson Conspiracy Focuses on Associates

May 3, 2004 -- At his arraignment Friday, Michael Jackson learned that he was facing a new charge of felony conspiracy in the child molestation case against him and ABCNEWS has learned that prosecutors are focusing on two long-time associates of the "King of Pop."

Jackson, 45, has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges that include felony conspiracy with 28 overt acts involving child abduction, false imprisonment, extortion; committing lewd acts upon a child; attempting to commit a lewd act; and administering an intoxicating agent to a child. In the felony conspiracy charge, prosecutors have focused on Vinnie Amen and Frank Tyson, who both worked for Jackson at his Neverland ranch, ABCNEWS has learned.

Sources familiar with the case told ABCNEWS that Amen and Tyson are accused of using pressure tactics to try to silence the family of Jackson's alleged victim. The alleged victim's family says that Amen and Tyson, under Jackson's orders, threatened the boy's brother and allegedly said they would have him and his family killed if they revealed any information about the singer sharing alcohol with them. Jackson has been accused of serving his accuser wine in soda cans.

To read about the alleged threats made against the family of Jackson's alleged victim, click here.

According to the attorney for Amen and Tyson, Joseph Tacopina, the two men also have been accused of taking the alleged victim's siblings out of school, getting passports for the family and pressuring them to leave the country. Amen and Tyson were offered partial immunity to testify before the grand jury that decided to bring charges against Jackson, but both rejected the deal.

Pressure Tactics — by the Prosecution

Tacopina said his clients deny the allegations against them. Amen and Tyson, he said, helped the alleged victim's siblings switch schools and get passports, but only at the family's request. Even if Amen and Tyson were to testify at trial, Tacopina said, the district attorney would be disappointed because the two men do not know of or did not witness any alleged wrongdoing by Jackson.

Some legal experts believe the conspiracy charge and the apparent focus on Amen and Tyson are designed to pressure Jackson associates into testifying against him and providing more evidence for prosecutors.

"The prosecutor is trying to bring pressure on some of those within Michael Jackson's inner circle," said ABCNEWS senior legal correspondent Cynthia McFadden. "Nothing clarifies the mind like the impending indictment. So far, these two [Amen and Tyson] are holding tight."

Airing Dirty Underwear

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that investigators last month raided a warehouse that holds several Jackson memorabilia and took six items as evidence. Two pairs of Jackson's Calvin Klein briefs, photos and handwritten notes were among the items reportedly seized. Investigators hoped the briefs would provide a sample of Jackson's DNA.

McFadden was skeptical about whether the items would be able to be used in the current case against Jackson.

"The items in the warehouse are at least 10 years old," McFadden said. "The things they seized are, while titillating, I think they are a long way from evidence at this point."

The indictment brought by the grand jury was released Friday with the names of the alleged co-conspirators deleted. The judge said the transcripts of the grand jury proceedings would be turned over to attorneys today but will remain under seal pending a hearing scheduled May 28.

Reported by ABCNEWS' Jessica Yellin on Good Morning America.