Music producer threatened to give Shaquille O'Neal sex tape to NBA star's wife

A music producer who was kidnapped and beaten three years ago said he threatened to give an alleged sex tape of Shaquille O'Neal to the NBA star's wife.

Robert Ross testified last week in a preliminary hearing for those accused of kidnapping him. He said he sent word through a friend that he would give a sex tape to O'Neal's wife, in an attempt to pressure O'Neal to give him the money he thought he was owed as part of a music deal. It remains unclear whether a sex tape ever actually existed.

Ross also testified that gang members who allegedly kidnapped him in early 2008 told him that the reason behind the kidnapping was an "issue" with O'Neal and his business partner Mark Stevens.

Ross testified in the preliminary hearing of seven Main Street Crip members accused of kidnapping, robbery and conspiracy in the February 2008 incident. Ross said he was kidnapped by armed gang members, robbed and beaten as they demanded a "videotape," two weeks after he told O'Neal and Stevens that he had a tape of the basketball star having sex with a woman other than his wife.

O'Neal and Stevens have denied involvement in statements to investigators. Neither has been charged in the case. Sheriff's records show that in 2009, investigators looked into the possibility that O'Neal was connected to the attack, after Ross alleged that the former Lakers center might have been involved.

In the testimony, a transcript of which was released Saturday, Ross said that at one point, his home security system had a recording of O'Neal having sex with a woman, but that it had been recorded over.

"He was at my house with some girl and it was on tape," Ross said.

"So did you really have a video of Shaq or had it already been recorded over?" a prosecutor asked.

"It was over.  It was gone," Ross responded.

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-- Victoria Kim

Photo: Shaquille O'Neal with the Boston Celtics in October. Credit: Winslow Townson / Associated Press