The Halifax police constable charged Sunday with extorting money from a man last week is accused of receiving $5,100, according to court documents obtained by CBC News.
The prosecution documents claim that Const. Jeffrey Buchanan, 29, demanded the money from Shawn Banfield, who is scheduled to be in provincial court Wednesday to face other charges.
The allegation details are in documents that are publicly available at the courthouse. They have yet to be proven.
The extortion is alleged to have happened in Halifax on Thursday, Dec. 10.
Buchanan was arrested Saturday at 2:30 a.m. while on duty and charged early Sunday. He is not in custody but has been suspended with pay.
He is scheduled to be in court on Jan. 26 to face charges of extortion and breach of trust.
Banfield is due in court Wednesday to face charges of assault and resisting and obstructing a police officer, dating to Dec. 9 and 10.
On Sunday, Halifax deputy police chief Chris McNeil said a "complex" investigation was conducted by the integrated Halifax Regional Police and RCMP team.
"Some of the witnesses were not necessarily forthcoming and co-operative," he said. "This is not a complainant who came forward to say 'I was extorted.'
"This is circumstances where police uncovered criminal activity and had to go out and seek out these people and not all of them were co-operative."
Showing posts with label extoring money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label extoring money. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Deputy Fausto Tejero Charged with Extorting Money
A Florida sheriff's deputy accused of extorting money from marijuana growers had an accomplice on the force, the Broward County sheriff says.
Deputy Fausto "T.J." Tejero has joined Deputy Manuel Silva in being charged with demanding money from the residents of an alleged drug-growing house near Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to ignore the operation, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday.
Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said last week when Silva was arrested and charged with extortion, attempted bribery, burglary and unlawful compensation that investigators weren't done.
"I repeat that we will leave no stone unturned when there's evidence that a BSO employee has committed a crime," Lamberti said in a release. "Unethical or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated on my watch."
The newspaper said Tejero is the fifth deputy to be arrested this year. He was twice honored as the Sheriff's Department employee of the month, in May 2006 and February 2007. The Sun-Sentinel also said Tejero was also a minor league baseball player from 1990 to 2000.
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http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/10/bso_deputy_extortion_tejero.php
Deputy Fausto "T.J." Tejero has joined Deputy Manuel Silva in being charged with demanding money from the residents of an alleged drug-growing house near Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to ignore the operation, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday.
Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said last week when Silva was arrested and charged with extortion, attempted bribery, burglary and unlawful compensation that investigators weren't done.
"I repeat that we will leave no stone unturned when there's evidence that a BSO employee has committed a crime," Lamberti said in a release. "Unethical or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated on my watch."
The newspaper said Tejero is the fifth deputy to be arrested this year. He was twice honored as the Sheriff's Department employee of the month, in May 2006 and February 2007. The Sun-Sentinel also said Tejero was also a minor league baseball player from 1990 to 2000.
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http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/10/bso_deputy_extortion_tejero.php
Monday, September 28, 2009
Cpl Donald Bailey Arrested for Taking Money for Favors
A veteran Baton Rouge police officer arrested Monday evening by Louisiana State Police for allegedly accepting cash from an inmate to get the jailed man's charges dismissed and his parole hold lifted bonded out of jail early Tuesday morning.
East Baton Rouge Parish jail officials said Cpl. Donald Bailey, 49, was released on a $10,000 bond around 2 a.m.
Bailey was charged with malfeasance in office and corrupt influencing. Investigators said they found out Bailey extorted money from the inmate and set up an operation to catch him in the act.
Troopers recorded a telephone call between Bailey and the inmate. During the call, the inmate told Bailey he needed help getting out of the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a cocaine possession charge and a parole hold. According to state police, Bailey told the inmate he would help him in exchange for $12,000.
The officer allegedly then contacted the district attorney's office and the parole office to make the requests. The agencies allowed the requests to happen and once the inmate was out of jail, a meeting was arranged between the inmate and Bailey. Investigators reported Bailey accepted $1,400 in cash. He was then arrested and booked into the parish prison.
Bailey is a 14-year veteran of the department and was the coordinator of the Targeted Violent Offender Program. Bailey was placed on administrative leave "pending a legally mandated pre-termination hearing," the department said in a statement late Monday evening.
"To say I'm disappointed would be a major understatement," Police Chief Jeff LeDuff said. "It hurts me personally and it hurts all of us professionally, anytime an officer violates the public trust."
LeDuff said he asked Louisiana State Police to conduct an independent investigation after first hearing of allegations against the corporal earlier this month.
"Allegations of corruption are taken very seriously and need to be investigated immediately," LeDuff said. "Many times we conduct those inquiries in-house. But in this case, Bailey was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau, and we wanted to be certain we could maintain the integrity of the investigation, so we requested the assistance of Louisiana State Police."
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Officer Adam Willis Arrested for Extortion
AVON PARK
Complaints about police misconduct in Avon Park stemmed from within the Hispanic community, officials have said.
The allegations include extortion.
An undercover operation that led to the Wednesday arrest of Avon Park Police Officer Adam Willis, 30, used a vehicle that was "suggestive that the owner of the vehicle was of Hispanic dissent [sic]," the arrest report stated.
According to court documents generated in the case of the State of Florida v. Adam Willis, an investigation started in June 2008 in reference to complaints that officers within the Avon Park Police Department were stealing from citizens, "namely those of a Hispanic background."
During the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Willis was determined to be one of the officers involved, said Yolanda Carbia, resident agent in charge of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Sebring field office.
The FDLE investigation eventually focused on two officers, Willis and Alberto Perez, court documents said.
Perez has yet to be charged, but has since been put on paid administrative leave by the APPD.
Patricia Austin, president of Council Three of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said she fielded many complaints from the Hispanic community.
"(Avon Park Police Chief Matthew Doughney) said (the complaints) would definitely be looked into and taken care of," she said Friday. "He got right on it ... I was really impressed with the chief on that."
Some of the complaints included extorting money.
"Hispanics talked about how they had been pulled over and told if they would pay a certain amount, (officers) wouldn't write them a ticket," she said, citing examples of individuals being pulled over for infractions such as having a headlight out or window tint too dark.
"I was furious. I couldn't believe it ... everyone knows you don't pay officers for a ticket," she said. "Some of them, from what they had told me, had given the officers cash."
Two separate individuals told her they paid between $200 and $300 to officers.
Carbia said she had no comment on whether or not the officers extorted money in this manner, but did say that LULAC officials provided both the FDLE and APPD with information.
Austin recalled witnessing one of her Hispanic neighbors being pulled over for running a stop sign from the front porch of her house.
"He did not run that stop sign," she recalled.
Austin went to help the officer deal with a language barrier, as she said her neighbor didn't speak English very well. The officer let the alleged offender go with a warning.
Austin remembers who that officer was, but wouldn't give a name.
"It was one of the officers they are questioning now," she said.
The Undercover Operation
The operation involved an unlocked vehicle parked on the shoulder of North Central Avenue in Avon Park with $310 in marked bills inside a wallet, a package of cigarette rolling papers and a fake temporary registration.
Willis arrived on scene in response to an anonymous complaint regarding a suspicious vehicle.
Electronic surveillance from inside the vehicle reportedly recorded Willis taking the wallet and rolling papers. He also reportedly found the temporary registration.
"The registration's purpose was to see if the officer would make an effort to locate the owner of the vehicle, which Willis did not do," the arrest report stated. "He located the registration, simply looked at it, and then placed it back in the center console."
Newly released court records indicate there was information in the wallet not investigated by Willis.
They stated he put the wallet into his pocket after flipping through it "without looking at the names and telephone numbers written on pieces of paper inside the wallet in an attempt to identify the owner of the vehicle."
Willis locked the car and radioed dispatch, stating he did not find any identification in the vehicle, and without mentioning the found property, reports stated.
Officials from the FDLE and APPD searched in and around the vehicle after Willis left, reportedly unable to find the wallet, money, or rolling papers.
On Monday, the APPD temporary evidence hold was checked, but none of the items allegedly removed by Willis were found.
The serial numbers of the bills in the wallet were all recorded by the FDLE and when Willis was arrested, $40 of the missing money was found in his front pants pocket.
He allegedly admitted to FDLE agents that he spent the additional $270.
Reduction of bail
Initially Willis was held without bond until first appearance.
After his first appearance on Thursday, bond was set at $100,000 for the charge of armed burglary, and $25,000 for the charge of grand theft, at the request of the state.
"Namely stating that the alleged crime was horrible in that an officer of the law had violated the public's trust, and that the State Attorney's Office feared that the Defendant may interfere with further investigations and possibly tamper with witnesses," court documents from Judge Anthony Ritenour said.
At continued first appearance, granted so the judge could hear testimony from both the state and the defense on the amount set for bond, it was lowered to $1,000 for grand theft and $15,000 for armed burglary.
"The issue remains, though, as to whether the defendant can be charged with armed burglary as, in fact, it would be impossible for him not to be armed at the time of entering the vehicle, due to his being a law enforcement officer," Ritenour said.
The judge mentioned in the documents that the state failed to prove any possibility that Willis would harass potential victims or witnesses.
"The court cannot set bond based on innuendo," he said.
The Highlands County Sheriffs Office Web site indicated Willis was released from jail at 6:30 p.m. Friday on the reduced $16,000 bond.
His next scheduled court date is set for Dec. 15.
Complaints about police misconduct in Avon Park stemmed from within the Hispanic community, officials have said.
The allegations include extortion.
An undercover operation that led to the Wednesday arrest of Avon Park Police Officer Adam Willis, 30, used a vehicle that was "suggestive that the owner of the vehicle was of Hispanic dissent [sic]," the arrest report stated.
According to court documents generated in the case of the State of Florida v. Adam Willis, an investigation started in June 2008 in reference to complaints that officers within the Avon Park Police Department were stealing from citizens, "namely those of a Hispanic background."
During the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Willis was determined to be one of the officers involved, said Yolanda Carbia, resident agent in charge of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Sebring field office.
The FDLE investigation eventually focused on two officers, Willis and Alberto Perez, court documents said.
Perez has yet to be charged, but has since been put on paid administrative leave by the APPD.
Patricia Austin, president of Council Three of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said she fielded many complaints from the Hispanic community.
"(Avon Park Police Chief Matthew Doughney) said (the complaints) would definitely be looked into and taken care of," she said Friday. "He got right on it ... I was really impressed with the chief on that."
Some of the complaints included extorting money.
"Hispanics talked about how they had been pulled over and told if they would pay a certain amount, (officers) wouldn't write them a ticket," she said, citing examples of individuals being pulled over for infractions such as having a headlight out or window tint too dark.
"I was furious. I couldn't believe it ... everyone knows you don't pay officers for a ticket," she said. "Some of them, from what they had told me, had given the officers cash."
Two separate individuals told her they paid between $200 and $300 to officers.
Carbia said she had no comment on whether or not the officers extorted money in this manner, but did say that LULAC officials provided both the FDLE and APPD with information.
Austin recalled witnessing one of her Hispanic neighbors being pulled over for running a stop sign from the front porch of her house.
"He did not run that stop sign," she recalled.
Austin went to help the officer deal with a language barrier, as she said her neighbor didn't speak English very well. The officer let the alleged offender go with a warning.
Austin remembers who that officer was, but wouldn't give a name.
"It was one of the officers they are questioning now," she said.
The Undercover Operation
The operation involved an unlocked vehicle parked on the shoulder of North Central Avenue in Avon Park with $310 in marked bills inside a wallet, a package of cigarette rolling papers and a fake temporary registration.
Willis arrived on scene in response to an anonymous complaint regarding a suspicious vehicle.
Electronic surveillance from inside the vehicle reportedly recorded Willis taking the wallet and rolling papers. He also reportedly found the temporary registration.
"The registration's purpose was to see if the officer would make an effort to locate the owner of the vehicle, which Willis did not do," the arrest report stated. "He located the registration, simply looked at it, and then placed it back in the center console."
Newly released court records indicate there was information in the wallet not investigated by Willis.
They stated he put the wallet into his pocket after flipping through it "without looking at the names and telephone numbers written on pieces of paper inside the wallet in an attempt to identify the owner of the vehicle."
Willis locked the car and radioed dispatch, stating he did not find any identification in the vehicle, and without mentioning the found property, reports stated.
Officials from the FDLE and APPD searched in and around the vehicle after Willis left, reportedly unable to find the wallet, money, or rolling papers.
On Monday, the APPD temporary evidence hold was checked, but none of the items allegedly removed by Willis were found.
The serial numbers of the bills in the wallet were all recorded by the FDLE and when Willis was arrested, $40 of the missing money was found in his front pants pocket.
He allegedly admitted to FDLE agents that he spent the additional $270.
Reduction of bail
Initially Willis was held without bond until first appearance.
After his first appearance on Thursday, bond was set at $100,000 for the charge of armed burglary, and $25,000 for the charge of grand theft, at the request of the state.
"Namely stating that the alleged crime was horrible in that an officer of the law had violated the public's trust, and that the State Attorney's Office feared that the Defendant may interfere with further investigations and possibly tamper with witnesses," court documents from Judge Anthony Ritenour said.
At continued first appearance, granted so the judge could hear testimony from both the state and the defense on the amount set for bond, it was lowered to $1,000 for grand theft and $15,000 for armed burglary.
"The issue remains, though, as to whether the defendant can be charged with armed burglary as, in fact, it would be impossible for him not to be armed at the time of entering the vehicle, due to his being a law enforcement officer," Ritenour said.
The judge mentioned in the documents that the state failed to prove any possibility that Willis would harass potential victims or witnesses.
"The court cannot set bond based on innuendo," he said.
The Highlands County Sheriffs Office Web site indicated Willis was released from jail at 6:30 p.m. Friday on the reduced $16,000 bond.
His next scheduled court date is set for Dec. 15.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Four Officers Investigated for Allegedly Extorting Money
MANILA, Philippines
Four Manila policemen will be investigated for allegedly extorting P800,000 from a Korean in exchange for his release after being jailed for illegal drug possession.
The chief of the Manila Police District (MPD), Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, ordered the probe on Tuesday of four cops detailed at the Anti-Illegal Drugs Division.
The policemen, whose identities were withheld pending the investigation, reportedly arrested 32-year-old Sungjun Byun on October 17 for illegal drug possession. According to earlier reports, a fellow Korean, Seong Mun Kin, also 32, mediated to have Sungjun released. It was allegedly Seong who gave the money to the four policemen.
Seong's arrest was not reported to the MPD, according to Chief Inspector Audie Madrideo, chief of the MPD District Police Intelligence Operations Unit (DPIOU).
Police learned of the alleged extortion only on Sunday (October 19) when Seong held Sungjun captive in the latter's own room at the Manila Pavilion in Malate, Manila. According to Sungjun, Seong was demanding payment of the P800,000 before letting him go.
Sungjun called his girlfriend to ask for the money. The girlfriend reported the incident to the police attache of the South Korean Embassy, Consul Park Jangsik, who then asked for police assistance.
Police went to the hotel to arrest Seong, who will be charged with kidnapping.
- GMANews.TV
Four Manila policemen will be investigated for allegedly extorting P800,000 from a Korean in exchange for his release after being jailed for illegal drug possession.
The chief of the Manila Police District (MPD), Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, ordered the probe on Tuesday of four cops detailed at the Anti-Illegal Drugs Division.
The policemen, whose identities were withheld pending the investigation, reportedly arrested 32-year-old Sungjun Byun on October 17 for illegal drug possession. According to earlier reports, a fellow Korean, Seong Mun Kin, also 32, mediated to have Sungjun released. It was allegedly Seong who gave the money to the four policemen.
Seong's arrest was not reported to the MPD, according to Chief Inspector Audie Madrideo, chief of the MPD District Police Intelligence Operations Unit (DPIOU).
Police learned of the alleged extortion only on Sunday (October 19) when Seong held Sungjun captive in the latter's own room at the Manila Pavilion in Malate, Manila. According to Sungjun, Seong was demanding payment of the P800,000 before letting him go.
Sungjun called his girlfriend to ask for the money. The girlfriend reported the incident to the police attache of the South Korean Embassy, Consul Park Jangsik, who then asked for police assistance.
Police went to the hotel to arrest Seong, who will be charged with kidnapping.
- GMANews.TV
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Officer Robert Bennett Charged with Bribery
A Pearson Police officer is arrested, charged with extorting money from drivers.
28 year-old Robert Bennett is charged with two counts bribery and two counts theft by extortion.
The GBI and Atkinson County Sheriff's Office say they arrested Bennett while he was on duty Friday.
He's accuse of pulling over Hispanic drivers and not ticketing them in exchange for money.
http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9147133
28 year-old Robert Bennett is charged with two counts bribery and two counts theft by extortion.
The GBI and Atkinson County Sheriff's Office say they arrested Bennett while he was on duty Friday.
He's accuse of pulling over Hispanic drivers and not ticketing them in exchange for money.
http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9147133
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Former Boston officer sentenced to 11 years
A former Boston police officer was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison yesterday for conspiring to extort $265,000 on behalf of Colombian drug dealers while in uniform, one of a series of recent corruption scandals in the Police Department.
US District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel sentenced Jose A. "Flaco" Ortiz, 46, formerly of Salem, to 11 years and three months in prison followed by five years of supervised release in connection with extortion and cocaine-related charges.
"Of all our recent cases combating police corruption, this was among the most egregious," US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said in a statement after sentencing. "To have a uniformed officer, carrying his badge and weapon, extort money on behalf of a Colombian drug ring cuts at the heart of our system of justice."
Ortiz pleaded guilty on April 29. He was the fifth Boston officer to plead guilty to federal charges since September. All the cases, including one involving three officers, involved drugs.
His lawyer, Scott A. Lutes, of Providence, said his client is ashamed and still thinks like a police officer. A few nights ago, Lutes said, Ortiz helped save a fellow inmate who slit his wrists and throat at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls.
The case against Ortiz stems from an investigation that began in late 2003 or early 2004, according to federal prosecutors. A man identified as Victim A told authorities that two drug dealers approached him and asked whether he knew anyone who might want to participate in drug trafficking.
At the advice of the authorities, Victim A introduced the drug dealers to a man supposedly involved in the drug trade. Days later, the drug dealers told Victim A that the man had stolen from them. They blamed Victim A for the theft.
And then, in a startling twist in August 2006, Ortiz showed up in his uniform at Victim A's job in the Boston area, prosecutors said. He said he was there on behalf of drug dealers who would kill Victim A if he didn't pay $265,000.
In May, the victim gave Ortiz $4,000 in cash and 4 kilograms of cocaine in a Revere parking lot, a deal Ortiz said would settle the debt. The FBI then arrested Ortiz.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Former Boston officer pleads guilty in federal drug case
A former Boston police officer pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges that he conspired to extort $265,000 on behalf of drug dealers while in uniform and that he threatened to kill the man who supposedly owed them the cash.
Jose A. "Flaco" Ortiz, 45, formerly of Salem, also admitted in US District Court in Boston that he participated in a related scheme to distribute cocaine he obtained from the victim. In brief and barely audible remarks in court, he denied personally threatening the victim, but said he relayed warnings from Colombian drug dealers that the victim "might be in some kind of danger" if the man did not pay the debt.
Ortiz, who spent 21 years on the force before his firing last May, is the fifth Boston officer to plead guilty to federal charges since September. All the cases, including one involving three officers, revolved around drugs.
Ortiz could spend the rest of his life in prison if US District Judge Rya W. Zobel issues the harshest possible sentence. But federal prosecutors are recommending a prison term of 11 to 14 years, because Ortiz has admitted his guilt and waived his right to appeal if he receives the lighter sentence.
"It's not a happy day for law enforcement" when a police officer pleads guilty to a crime, First Assistant US Attorney Michael K. Loucks said after the hearing, which was handled by another prosecutor.
But Loucks praised Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis for helping federal authorities pursue cases of police corruption. "No matter what organization, there are always going to be people who commit crimes," Loucks said.
Ortiz's lawyer, Scott A. Lutes of Providence, said his client changed his plea because he wanted to take responsibility for his misdeeds. "He candidly admits his guilt and feels terrible about it," said Lutes.
Supporters of Ortiz filled a bench near the front of the gallery in the courtroom. As they have at Ortiz's previous hearings, several wore white T-shirts saying, "I [heart-shape] you Ortiz."
Ortiz, dressed in a khaki jumpsuit from the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, R.I., made no eye contact with them during the hearing.
The case against Ortiz stems from an investigation by law enforcement authorities that began in late 2003 or early 2004, according to Assistant US Attorney John T. McNeil. At the time, a man identified only as Victim A in court papers told authorities that two drug dealers approached him and asked if he knew anyone who might want to participate in drug trafficking.
At the advice of law enforcement officials, Victim A introduced the drug dealers to a man whom he believed to be involved in the drug trade, McNeil said. Days later, the drug dealers told Victim A that that man had stolen from them. The dealers blamed Victim A for the theft and said he owed them more than $200,000.
The matter became a police corruption case in August 2006 when, in a startling twist, Ortiz showed up at Victim A's job in the Boston area, McNeil said. Wearing his uniform, badge, and holstered handgun, Ortiz told the victim that he was there on behalf of Colombian drug dealers who would kill Victim A and his family if the man did not pay his debt. Ortiz later said the debt totaled $265,000.
In March and April 2007, Victim A paid Ortiz $6,000 in three installments while law enforcement officials secretly recorded the transactions, McNeil said. On May 2, the victim gave Ortiz $4,000 in cash and 4 kilograms of cocaine in a parking lot in Revere, a deal that the officer said would settle the debt. Ortiz was again dressed in uniform.
Moments later, an FBI SWAT team arrested him.
A search of Ortiz's police locker a week later found $7,000 in cash, including $700 that had been provided to the victim by law enforcement officials, authorities said.
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