Four Siblings Sue Jackson Estate Over Alleged Abuse

Four siblings who once counted themselves among Michael Jackson's closest companions have filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing the late singer's estate and associated companies of child sex trafficking and prolonged sexual abuse during their childhoods.

The complaint, submitted on Friday, names Frank Cascio, Dominic Cascio, MarieNicole Porte and Aldo Cascio as plaintiffs. They allege that Jackson, who died in 2009, groomed and assaulted them over more than a decade, beginning when some were as young as seven or eight years old. The suit claims the abuse occurred in multiple locations worldwide, including Jackson's Neverland Ranch in California, the siblings' family home in New Jersey, and during international trips to places such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Africa and Florida. According to the court filing, Jackson used his fame, wealth and a network of employees to build trust with the family, showering the children with gifts, travel opportunities and declarations of affection before isolating them, providing drugs and alcohol, exposing them to explicit content including images of unclothed children, and committing acts of sexual assault.