Ex-Gizmondo exec pleads not guilty

May 31st, 2006, 16:20 Posted By: wraggster

In February, former Gizmondo executive Stefan Eriksson made headlines for being involved in a million-dollar car crash. Eriksson was arrested last month, and the Associated Press reports that today he entered a plea of not guilty to a number of the charges currently against him. For those keeping track, the charges now include three counts of embezzlement, three counts of grand theft, illegal gun possession, and two misdemeanor counts of drunken driving. According to the AP, Eriksson pleaded guilty to grand theft, embezzlement, and drunken driving charges, though it did not say how many of each, or what his plea was on the gun charge.

The embezzlement and theft charges stem from a trio of exotic cars (including the $1 million Ferrari Enzo that was wrecked in the car crash) Eriksson had allegedly leased in Great Britain and then illegally transported to the US. The gun charge apparently stems from a .357-caliber handgun authorities found during a search of Eriksson's Bel Air, California home. The gun was reportedly registered to a reserve Orange County Sheriff's deputy.

As for the drunken driving charges, Eriksson tested above the legal limit of alcohol after the crash. He originally claimed that a German man named Dietrich was driving and fled the scene after the accident, but has since reportedly admitted that he was at the wheel.

Eriksson isn't the only former Gizmondo executive in trouble with the law. Late last month, former managing director of the company Carl Freer was arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer in order to buy a gun. Freer allegedly flashed a badge he got from the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority, claiming to be a police officer and a member of an "antiterrorism" squad. The SGVTA is a private company that assists the elderly by providing transportation. Both Freer and Eriksson left Gizmondo last October when it was reported that Eriksson and a pair of other Gizmondo employees had ties to Swedish organized crime.

Via Gamespot

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