By Joe Palazzolo
MegaUpload.com landed a Mega lawyer: Hogan Lovells’s Robert Bennett.
According to the AP, Bennett said Friday he’ll represent the company, which was charged Thursday, along with seven key company officials, with orchestrating a massive piracy scheme that allowed Mega users to download hundreds of millions of dollars worth of illegal movies, music and software.
Bennett told the AP the company would put up a vigorous defense, but he declined to discuss specifics.
Bennett is a household name, having represented two secretaries of defense, President Bill Clinton (in the Paula Jones case), Enron and KPMG (in the tax shelter case).
How will MegaUpload pay for Bennett’s four-figure-an-hour services?
According to the Justice Department, the company has made $ 175 million on subscriptions and advertising. MegaUpload founder and chief Kim Dotcom (aka Kim Schmitz) received more than $ 42 million in 2010 alone, the indictment says. So there’s that.
Or the defendants could sell their fleet of luxury cars, each with its own cringe-worthy vanity plate. Here are just a few that the Justice Department is seeking to forfeit, according to the indictment:
2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe, VINSCA2D68096UH07049; License Plate No. “GOD”;72.
2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, VIN WDD2120772A103834, LicensePlate No. “STONED”;73.
2010 Mini Cooper S Coupe, VIN WMWZG32000TZ03651, License PlateNo. “V”;74.
2010 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, VIN WDC1641772A608055, LicensePlate No. “GUILTY”;75.
2007 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG, VIN WDD2163792A025130, LicensePlate No. “KIMCOM”;76.
2009 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, VIN WDC1641772A542449,LicensePlate No. “MAFIA”;77.
2010 Toyota Vellfire, VIN 7AT0H65MX11041670, License Plate Nos.“WOW” or “7”;78.
2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, VIN WDB4632702X193395, LicensePlate Nos. “POLICE” or “GDS672”
We’ve got a call out to Bennett.
