The Associated Press
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - Authorities have broken up what they say was a $705,000 extortion plot involving a well-known Greeley businessman.
Police arrested Mark Haines, 42, of Kersey on Wednesday after he allegedly picked up a bag that supposedly contained the money. He was booked on suspicion of extortion and released on $10,000 bond.
The target of the alleged plot was Dave Calvin, who owns an estate at St. Michael’s Reservoir on the southwest edge of Greeley, police said.
Court affidavits released Thursday show Calvin received a note Dec. 8 that demanded $680,000 in cash. Police said the note alleged knowledge of illegal acts involving Calvin, none of which have proven to be true.
Calvin contacted police. On Dec. 13, he received another note asking for $705,000 - a $25,000 penalty because Calvin did not cooperate earlier. The writer threatened to harm Calvin’s wife if the instructions were not followed.
Calvin was told to take the money to an employee break room in the city’s Bank One building. Several police officers were nearby when the suspect picked up the bag.
Haines owns Summit Tutoring, which has an office in the same business mall as Bank One. Police said he told them he had found the bag and planned to return it to its owner, then admitted he had been calling Calvin.
Haines, however, said an unidentified man told him to get the money from Calvin or else Haines’ children would be harmed. Haines told the Greeley Tribune on Thursday he has proof of an extortion attempt against him that will come out later. He wouldn’t say what the proof is.