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November 13, 2007

Suspect in extortion calls to retailers being sought

MIAMI -- Federal prosecutors are seeking the arrest of a U.S. citizen in Portugal who may be behind dozens of extortion calls to retail outlets and banks around the country -- including calls to a Wal-Mart in Newport in August.

At least 26 banks, retail stores and grocery stores in 17 states received calls this year from someone threatening to set off a bomb unless money was wired to an account abroad.

A grand jury indictment unsealed in Miami today charges Allan Guedes Sharif with threatening to bomb a Miami Beach bank in March unless employees there gave an alleged accomplice $20,000.

The indictment says Sharif made similar threats at two other Miami-area banks.

Although the indictment is limited to the March calls, Miami U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta says prosecutors and the FBI have been in contact with numerous other jurisdictions where Sharif may have made threats.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:18 PM | Permalink

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