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Real Housewife's Dark Past Comes to Light

Danielle Staub has a felony on her record

By Amelia Atlas,  Newser User

Posted Jun 8, 2009 8:01 AM CDT

(Newser) – The shocking reveal is a reality-TV staple, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey has a doozy—cast member Danielle Staub has a criminal past. Even on a show that trades in bad taste, Staub sticks out for being its first felon, reports the New York Post. In last week's episode, Teresa Guidice unveiled an out-of-print book that revealed Staub's checkered past.

Staub's ex-husband is one of the highest paid FBI informants in history. Together, they launched a scheme to press a rich acquaintance's father for ransom money, leading to charges of kidnapping, extortion, and drug possession in 1986. Staub, then going by the name Beverly Merrill, eventually cut a deal and served 5 years' probation after pleading guilty to extortion, the Star-Ledger reports.

Danielle Staub, formerly known as Beverly Merrill, had a secret that came to light on the last episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey..
Danielle Staub, formerly known as Beverly Merrill, had a secret that came to light on the last episode of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey.".   (Bravo)
The cast of Bravo's The Real Housewives of New Jersey. (Bravo)
The cast of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." (Bravo)
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New Jersey cougar Danielle Staub has a rap sheet and a reputation for being a "coke whore" and a kidnapper.   (CelebTV)

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I think she's smart. I think she knows what she's doing," he says. "I think she's a star and she'll make her own book deal. She's hit the jackpot that all the housewives were looking for. - Charles Kipps, author of Cop Without a Badge

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Jojo
Jun 8, 2009 3:32 AM CDT
It was so funny watching the reruns last weekend. The episode BEFORE all this trash was discovered, Danielle was telling others that some of the *other* women were up to no good and that the "truth would be revealed" about them. She was also talking about one of the other women and said "she is scared of me, I know tooooo much dirt about her". So what happened to her was like a great big old karma slap in the face. Hilarious. And Observer, I doubt any young girls are watching a reality show about a bunch of classless gold digging old woman in New Jersey. Pretty sure they would be more tuned into Gossip Girl.
Observer
Jun 8, 2009 2:54 AM CDT
Look up her picture - what a skanky bitch.
Observer
Jun 8, 2009 2:50 AM CDT
Great role models for America's young girls. TV has hit another low. Want a hIgh paying career? - Join the ranks of FBI informants. Cash, drugs, travel, hot babes and excitement - Tax Free! What a sick society we live in.

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