Terrorist hero can't spot a con

Kiefer Sutherland. Photo / Supplied

Terrorist-swatting Jack Bauer from the white-knuckle action drama 24, is not the kind of man you would want to double-cross. After all, at the last count he had saved the world seven times - each time in a single day. The actor who plays him, Kiefer Sutherland is no push-over either.

This week, however, it emerged that the Anglo-Canadian son of 60s screen hero Donald Sutherland is facing a bill of US$869,000 (NZ$1.23 million) after falling foul of an alleged cattle fraud.

Sutherland, 43, has been co-operating with prosecutors in California investigating a suspected Ponzi-scheme by a cattle manager and competitive steer-roping promoter Michael Wayne Carr. Sutherland was put in touch with Carr through a financial adviser who checked out a deal to buy steers in Mexico and sell them in the US.

Sutherland invested US$550,000 in the scheme and within 30 days, Carr wired him US$685,000, according to court documents. When he was offered the same deal a few months later, the money was paid but no cows appeared, it is alleged. Prosecutors say Carr used the money to pay a huge debt.

A couple from New Mexico also lost their US$177,000 investment while a Colorado cattle mover lost US$400,000. Carr is expected to appear in court next month on 12 felony charges, including grand theft, forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money by false pretences and falsifying corporate books. If convicted he faces up to 18 years in prison.

According to reports from the San Joaquin County District Attorney's office Sutherland has been "very friendly and helpful". But the loss is small beer for the Golden Globe-winning star who recently signed a three-year contract worth US$40 million to appear in the hugely popular Fox TV series, which has been accused of glamorising violence and xenophobia in the wake of September 11. It's eighth season debuts this Friday on C4.

In 2007 Sutherland served 48 days in prison in Los Angeles on a drink-driving charge. He was also accused last year of head-butting a designer during a late-night row at a New York nightclub, though charges were later dropped. The star was inspired to buy a 365ha ranch after appearing in the films Young Guns and The Cowboy Way. He travelled on the rodeo circuit and even won prizes for his roping skills.

"I got into roping mainly because I was in Montana," he said in an interview last year. "If I don't have something to do, I get myself into a whole lot of trouble," he added.

24: Day Eight debuts on C4 this Friday at 8.30pm.

- INDEPENDENT