Cops: Gang Beat Man Who Said He Had Shaq Sex Tape

So much for a peaceful retirement. A crazy crime story emerged yesterday featuring Shaquille O'Neal, a gang kidnapping, and a purported sex tape. Seven Los Angeles gang members allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed a man in 2008 who had claimed to have a sex tape of Shaq, reports the Los Angeles Times. The case remained quiet until the gang defendants appeared in court for a preliminary hearing. Sources tell the Daily News no sex tape ever existed; music producer Robert Ross apparently had been bluffing after a business dispute with the NBA star.

A member of the Crips—who is friends with the former Lakers center—and six other men reportedly went after Ross on the evening of the Grammy Awards in 2008, surrounded his Rolls Royce with guns drawn, entered the car, and forced him to drive them to his home where they demanded the tape. The suspects then allegedly stole jewelry and $15,000 before releasing him. All seven have been charged with kidnapping, robbery, and other crimes, and are being held in jail. LAPD detectives interviewed O'Neal but say he is not involved. (More Shaquille O'Neal stories.)