Extortion Story

Mary Beth and Jeremy were arrested on November 15 for conspiracy of Extortion. Prior to the investigation, I received a phone call about from Zoey who was getting threatening calls from the couple. They threatening to burn her house down if she doesn't pay them the money she owes them. She advised me that she borrowed $15, 000 from them to finish purchasing the home she always dreamed about. They loaned her the money and she promised to pay them back each month. I began investigating the case considering the fire department had been to the home several times due to the back yard being caught on fire. As I investigated this case, I found out that this isn't the first time this couple has set fire to someone's property or threatened to do so.

Mary Beth and Jeremy have decided that they was going to help Zoey with buying her new home. They were over heard on the phone with another person about the house fire if she didn't pay the money back within the year. I was told that they said they would burn the home to the ground if they didn't get their money. They harassed Zoey each month when she wasn't on time with the payments. Each time she was late on paying, one part in her back yard would be caught on fire as a lesson.

I found evidence that linked the couple to the fires in the back yard. They even denied all allegations that they were part of a conspiracy to extort Zoey. Her phone records showed that they called her at least 6 times a day, along with letters in the mail. She gotten random letters in the mail, stating that she owed them. The couple was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Extort. They both pled guilty.