Thursday was the day of reckoning for Anthony Pellicano, the private investigator from Hollywood after the jury found him guilty of wiretapping and a host of other charges. The jury convicted him for bringing up filth for his rich clients during his investigations, material that these clients could later use for their purposes – settling lawsuits, business disagreements and also divorce.

There were 77 charges laid out against the 64-year old, of which the jury acquitted him of only one charge. The jury delivered a guilty verdict to Pellicano and four other co-defendants – ex-LAPD sergeant Mark Arneson, ex-telephone company worker Rayford Earl Turner, Pellicano’s client Abner Nicherie, and software designer Kevin Kachikian.

Among other things, Pellicano stands accused of organizing wiretaps on Hollywood stars of the status of Sylvester Stallone. Besides, he is also accused of looking up information on Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon in the databases maintained by law enforcement agencies with the intention of providing the relevant information to clients

Pellicano has been found guilty of racketeering and racketeering fraud, among other things. Other charges he has been found guilty of include identity theft, conspiracy to tap wire communications at the office and/or possession of a device that can facilitate wiretaps. The jury acquitted him on the additional charge of accessing a computer without the proper access.

Each count of racketeering could translate into a potential maximum punishment of 20 years behind bars. The other charges are not so strong, entailing a prison sentence of up to five years.

The indictments for the case were handed down back in February 2006 and the case has been in the media spotlight all through as rumors flew back and forth about whose names could possibly pop up as the case went on.

In all, 14 people were charged of whom seven, including film director John McTiernan and ex-president of Hollywood Records Robert Pfeifer pled guilty to charges that included perjury and conspiracy. However, there were no big fish in the net as all the big names in Hollywood with links to Pellicano claimed ignorance about his methods and were hence not charged.

Pellicano acted as his own attorney during the case and did not raise too many objections. He also called just one witness. All through, he kept his word about not betraying his clients’ trust and did not put himself on the stand. Even during the closing arguments, all Pellicano said was that he was responsible for the investigations as he did not share information with his associates.

Speaking about the verdict, jury forewoman Terri Winbush said, “We went by the evidence, forewoman of the 12-member jury. There was a lot of evidence.” U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer set sentencing for September 24.