Bizarre Twist in Kobe Bryant Case, $3-Millon Murder for Hire Plot

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. -- A Swiss man was arrested Thursday for investigation of soliciting the murder of the Colorado woman who has accused Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant of sexual assault.

Patrick Graber, 31 (pictured, left), was arrested after making the offer to Bryant's security director and then meeting with undercover detectives and agreeing to carry out the murder for $1 million up front and $2 million after the fact, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca told a press conference at his headquarters.

"The Kobe Bryant case is indeed a story of national significance, and sadly there are people, who as criminals, look to engage themselves with this case in the fashion that is not only deplorable but tragic that enough harm has been done to many, many people ..." Baca said.

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Graber, who lives in the Los Angeles suburb of El Segundo, was identified as a Swiss national with an expired travel visa. Sheriff's officials described him as a well-built bodybuilding coach at a local gym.

Just before Thursday's arrest, Graber attempted to reach for a bag full of movie studio prop money in a car, sheriff's Lt. Jim Taylor said.

"We believe it was a credible threat," Taylor said.

Arraignment was set for Sept. 22.

The investigation started Sept. 8, after security personnel employed by Bryant said they had received a letter stating that the writer of the letter could solve Bryant's problems, the Sheriff's Department said.

A security official met with the writer, Graber, and then contacted the sheriff's investigators. A meeting was arranged with Graber and undercover sheriff's detectives.

At one point during the investigation, Graber was concerned that an undercover detective was a law enforcement agent, and looked at his body for a recording device, Taylor said.

The detectives concluded that Graber was serious about his offer and they contacted the Eagle County, Colo., district attorney's office and the accuser's family to advise them of the alleged threat.

"He had given us information specifically about the family that led us to believe he knew them quite well," Taylor said. "What he said about the victim and her family was true."

Baca said that contacting the family risked compromising the investigation but that the safety of the alleged victim was "paramount."

Sheriff's undercover investigators had several more meetings with Graber in which a money exchange for the murder was arranged, officials said. Authorities said others may be involved in the alleged plot, but no further arrests have been made.

Taylor said Graber planned to hire someone to commit the crime and would provide evidence showing they had accomplished their goal against Bryant's alleged victim. Graber said he could have acted quickly, possibly within a week, to commit the crime, Taylor said.

"He said he could make her not come to court, he could make her disappear, he could make her have a drug overdose," Taylor said. "He was specific in that manner."

Graber allegedly told authorities he was involved in organized crime, possibly the Russian mafia. Sheriff's detectives said they do not have any evidence that Graber had those ties, but are investigating.

A search warrant was served where Graber lived and firearms were found, Taylor said.

"One clear word to describe this has to be 'bizarre.' No it's outrageous... it's beyond bizarre," Hal Hadden, one of Bryant's defense attornies told 7NEWS.

Bryant's attorneys also issued a press release Thursday night which criticized media coverage of the case.

Since the case became public, there have been "multiple threats" against Bryant, his lawyers and the Eagle woman, the statement said. And, there have been "outrageously false stories" claiming Bryant offered money to the alleged victim.

"We condemn these threats and false stories," the statement continued. "They are the unfortunate byproducts of the media circus which has overtaken this case."

Bryant, 25, is charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old employee of the ritzy Lodge & Spa at Cordillera on June 30. He has said the two had consensual sex.

Defense attorney Pamela Mackey said Thursday that Bryant, his lawyers and his accuser have received multiple threats since the basketball star's arrest.

"This atmosphere threatens not just Mr. Bryant, his lawyers and the accuser, but the fundamental right to a fair trial before an impartial jury," Mackey said in a statement. "Mr. Bryant cooperated fully with law enforcement as he has throughout this ordeal."

Mackey added that the suspect used the name, "Yuri," in his contact with Bryant's camp and that his meetings with law enforcement agents were recorded.

Krista Flannigan, spokeswoman for Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert, declined to comment on the arrest. She would not say whether Hurlbert had been notified of the allegations. Kim Andre, Eagle County sheriff's spokeswoman, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Telephone messages left with the accuser's family and her attorney were not immediately returned.

The alleged murder-for-hire scheme is not the first threat to Bryant's accuser. Police records show that her father has called police at least twice in recent weeks to report suspicious incidents.

Earlier this month, a University of Iowa student was arrested for leaving a threatening message on the woman's answering machine in July.