LOS ANGELES - Jury selection began Wednesday for the federal trial of private investigator Anthony Pellicano and four co-defendants, charged in a wiretapping case that prosecutors said targeted Hollywood celebrities and others.
Dozens of prospective jurors were summoned to the downtown federal courthouse.
Prosecutors had been expected to release their witness list, but the court's online docket showed the document had been placed under seal.
Pellicano, 63, is accused of running a criminal enterprise that wiretapped phones and bribed police and telephone workers to get confidential information that could be used to gain an advantage in divorce, business and other cases.
Alleged victims included Sylvester Stallone and comedians Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon.
Prosecutors estimate Pellicano, retired Los Angeles police Sgt. Mark Arneson and former telephone company employee Rayford Earl Turner collected nearly $2 million from what they say was a racketeering scheme.
Pellicano and his co-defendants -- who also include Kevin Kachikian and Abner Nicherie -- have pleaded not guilty.
Since his indictment two years ago, Pellicano has refused to flip on his rich and famous clients, saying he won't violate anyone's confidence.
However, he is acting as his own attorney and said any celebrities who testify against him could face a rough time during cross-examination.
"I'm not going to wilfully hurt anyone," Pellicano told The Associated Press during a recent telephone interview from federal prison. "But I might ask questions... that might make people uncomfortable."
Despite having a treasure trove of Hollywood secrets, Pellicano said he won't reveal them to help his case.
"There are a lot of celebrities' secrets I still hold and I haven't broken a vow, even to the people I don't like,'' he said. "If I was going to say something, I would have said something a long time ago."
