Money

6/4 7:20 AM -- Tucupita Marcano has been banned from Major League Baseball for life, officials announced Tuesday.

The league released a statement on the decision ... saying it was determined Marcano placed 387 baseball bets, including 231 related to MLB, in 2022 and 2023 -- totaling more than $150,000 on the sport.

The league added Marcano bet on the Pirates 25 times while he was a member of the organization -- although he did not play in any of the games due to his season-ending injury.

6/4/24 -- Josh's company, Preview Models, tells TMZ they worked with Sharaun and did everything in obtaining and using her image on the up and up -- but claims they got a letter from her in November that demanded money over what she felt was an unauthorized use of her likeness.

PM also says that any unauthorized materials pertaining to Sharaun were destroyed, and that they haven't heard a peep from her ... until now. Preview Models also tells us they haven't even been served with any papers pertaining to this suit ... but note that if/when they officially become aware of it, they'll defend themselves ... and might even countersue her if need be.

"90 Day Fiancé" star Josh Weinstein is being dragged to court by a model ... with her claiming his production company used her image to market his business, but is not paying up.

Sharaun Brown just filed a lawsuit against Josh, claiming the reality star's Preview Models production biz used her photos on its website to promote the company, propping her up as a "Celebrity Mentor" and using her to lure in aspiring models.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Sharaun says Preview Models started using her image around February 2023, adding her photos to ads for open casting calls, fashion shows and booking services.

Henry Jarecki -- an award-winning psychiatrist and Hollywood movie producer -- is being dragged to court by one of Jeffrey Epstein's accusers ... a woman who claims Jarecki sexually assaulted and trafficked her.

According to a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the woman claims Jarecki was a close associate of Epstein's, and someone JE relied on as part of Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. She claims Epstein sent her to Jarecki for mental-health treatment and instead of helping her as a psychiatrist, Jarecki raped her.

In the docs, the woman claims she came to the United States around 2010 through a modeling agency but couldn't legally work because she did not have a visa, and she ended up being introduced to Epstein, who she claims began sexually abusing her and controlling her entire life.

Mamie Laverock has a long road to recovery after she was severely injured in a 5-story fall -- this according to her family, who's provided new updates on the tragic situation.

The Hallmark actress' loved ones issued the news on a GoFundMe page for Mamie, where they detailed the extensive surgery she has undergone after her massive fall -- revealing ML has already had 25 hours worth of surgeries. She is expected to have another surgery soon.

They wrote ... "We have nothing but gratitude for the doctors and nurses who have been exemplary in her care since May 26. Mamie is 'doing well' comparatively to when she arrived. Doing well because she has survived these extensive surgeries. She is enduring tremendous pain and continues to not give up."

Alex Jones bawled his eyes out this weekend -- and in the same breath, he let out a scream straight from his bowels, all while claiming his show is on the verge of a shutdown.

Check it out ... Alex was doing an impromptu "Infowars" broadcast this weekend -- where he alleged the feds were attempting to raid and confiscate his studio in Austin, TX ... 'cause a day earlier, he said he learned cops were gonna padlock the door and kick him out.

Unclear where he's getting this info or what might be behind all this, but in any case ... he was airing out his frustrations on the show, with both a war cry and a full-blown sob fest.

Cam'ron just returned fire after Anthony Edwards called out the New York rapper in his latest Adidas commercial ... going OFF on the Timberwolves superstar in a scathing freestyle.

The 22-year-old guard -- who signed with Adidas after turning pro -- released an ad shortly after Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs last week ... where he clapped back at the people who criticized him by sharing, quite literally, receipts.

One of the naysayers mentioned was Cam'ron ... who said on his "It Is What It Is" podcast that Edwards wasn't a superstar yet.

Seems Karl-Anthony Towns is hoping a little retail therapy will help him get over the Timberwolves' Western Conference finals loss ... 'cause the Minnesota star was seen going on a shopping spree Sunday -- one in which he appeared to buy loads of luxury items.

The four-time NBA All-Star hit Topanga Mall in the Los Angeles area to apparently find comfort in his credit card ... just a couple days after the Dallas Mavericks unceremoniously ended his season.

KAT's longtime girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, joined him for the excursion ... and it's clear the two spent some big bucks as they officially kicked off the basketball player's offseason.

Justin Jefferson is getting PAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIID -- the Minnesota Vikings superstar agreed to a four-year, $140 million extension on Monday ... the richest contract for a non-quarterback in the history of the NFL.

The deal was announced just minutes ago ... with Adam Schefter saying a whopping $88.743 million will be due as soon as the standout wide receiver signs on the dotted line -- and $110 million overall is guaranteed.

Jefferson released a video addressing the monumental moment in his career ... captioning the post with a touching message for his fans.

Jay Leno is railing against the light punishment for most perps caught stealing catalytic converters as the L.A. crime wave is turning deadly ... specifically with the recent murder of "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor.

The stand-up comic and renowned car guru tells TMZ ... it's outrageous the penalty for ripping off converters -- usually a $1,000 fine amounting to just a misdemeanor charge -- isn’t vastly harsher.

JL adds ... The slap on the wrist most thieves receive -- if they even get nabbed -- is the reason they're so brazen.

Rick Ross' Car & Bike Show didn't go as well as planned, it seems ... 'cause a ton of people online are blasting the event's organization -- and demanding refunds.

The rapper's annual car and bike show took place yesterday in Fayetteville, Georgia, and -- from pics Rick posted -- it seems like the event went off without a hitch. Lots of smiling, hugging and laughing with one of the biggest names in hip hop.

But, fans on social media are telling a totally different story ... claiming the car show totally ran them over!

Angel Reese has been fined by the WNBA after the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever ... but, it's not for what most fans might think.

The league announced a fine for the rookie for skipping media obligations postgame ... dinging her $1,000 for not making herself available to reporters. They've also fined the Sky $5k.

Of course, Angel clearly applauded a cheap shot foul her teammate Chennedy Carter hit Clark with during the game Saturday, and some may have thought the league would reprimand her for that ... but, so far, that's not the case.

"The Garfield Movie" is a kitty with claws it seems ... 'cause the movie's taking out the competition left and right at the box office -- including "Mad Max: Furiosa."

The animated family film will eek out the top spot at the box office this weekend, according to Deadline ... beating out "Mad Max: Furiosa" $13 million to $11.5 million.

Last weekend, almost went the cat's way too ... though ultimately 'MM:F' took the top spot $32.3 million to $31.2 million -- paltry totals for both flicks but especially bad for 'Furiosa' with its huge production and advertising budgets.

Some scumbag pretending to be NBA prospect James McCain has been scamming fans out of their hard-earned money on Snapchat ... and now, the REAL James McCain's team is working to get the account removed from the app.

TMZ Sports has learned -- someone completely unaffiliated with 20-year-old McCain has been reaching out to people on the platform recently ... and after weeks of talking and building up trust, the user will eventually offer gifted items from SKIMS and other companies at a discounted price.

We're told some users have fallen for it -- after all, Kim Kardashian's brand recently partnered with the NCAA for March Madness ... and McCain was all over the campaign.

SKIMS also has a relationship with the NBA ... McCain's next employer.

Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn't in Islam Makhachev's corner for his last fight, but he will be Octagonside for Saturday's title scrap vs. Dustin Poirier ... and he's doing it for free!

TMZ Sports talked to Khabib and Islam's longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz, this week ... and while all MMA fans are well aware of Nurmagomedov's exploits inside the cage, we asked about his talents as a coach -- and how it's impacted Makhachev's preparation heading into UFC 302.

"[Islam] had one of the greatest coaches you can ever have in your corner, Khabib. He's been coaching in the whole camp," Ali said, adding, "He had some of the best training partners you can ask for mimicking Dustin. We're fighting a dangerous opponent. You know, Dustin Poirier is a dangerous opponent, but I feel right now Islam is a hard guy to beat, you know?"

"And, he's going there for the kill. Everybody talks about Dustin Poirier, he's killed or to be killed. Tomorrow, Islam is going to be turned into a killing machine."

Typically, coaches receive a percentage of a fighter's pay ... but not Khabib, not this time.

"Khabib came to camp. He's not making money. He's not getting a percentage. He's spending his own money for his own flight just to help his brother."

Of course, Khabib, 29-0 (BTW, one of those wins came against Poirier), retired after beating Justin Gaethje in 2020 ... shortly after the tragic death of his father, Abdulmanap.

Since, Nurmagomedov has dedicated himself to coaching ... although he has stepped aside at times (he wasn't in Islam's corner for the Volkanovski fight at UFC 294).

Check out the clip. There's much more with Ali on Islam, Khabib, and some of his other star fighters.

Gable Steveson's wrestling career has just been put on pause ... 'cause he's now an NFL player!!!

The 2020 Olympic gold medalist signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills on Friday ... this after he apparently wowed team officials during a defensive lineman workout earlier this month.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Gable's deal is a standard, three-year rookie one. Steveson is slated to wear No. 61 when he hits Buffalo's field later this summer.

Donald Trump is using his soapbox to decry the guilty verdict rendered against him in New York -- calling it a sham and corrupt, while also insisting ... he wanted to get on the stand.

The ex-Prez spoke to the media anew Friday at Trump Tower in NYC -- his first official press conference since he got convicted Thursday on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records ... something he says was absolutely ridiculous, with the deck stacked against him.

DT rattled off what he thinks he did in terms of Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels -- characterizing the alleged hush money payment as nothing more than a standard business expense that was on the up and up -- and went on to slam the judge ... while also laying the blame for this case being brought at Biden's feet.