The Associated Press
BOSTON — A former Boston police officer has pleaded guilty to conspiring to extort $265,000 from a man on behalf of Colombian drug dealers.
Jose Ortiz, 45, formerly of Salem, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to four charges, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to commit extortion and attempted extortion.
Ortiz admitted that in August 2006, he tried to extort a man he believed was responsible for a drug deal that had gone bad.
Ortiz, who was wearing his police uniform, told the man that he worked with two drug dealers and Colombians who had lost money in a drug deal and he was there to collect the debt. Ortiz allegedly threatened to kill the man and his family if he did not pay.