Man Indicted for Extorting Owner of Guero Canelo Restaurants

TUCSON, AZ—Eduardo A. Sabori, 35, of Tucson, Ariz., was indicted on Wednesday for six counts of interfering with commerce by threats or violence, a federal offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a).

Sabori first delivered a threatening ransom letter to the owner of the three Guero Canelo restaurants on July 9, 2011. In the letter he demanded $600,000 by midnight, Wednesday, July 13, 2011. Over the next few days, Sabori delivered several more letters with specific instructions and threats of disruption of the restaurants, physical harm to the owner, his family, and employees of his restaurants. Sabori was arrested on July 13, 2011 and remains in custody. A trial date is set for October 4, 2011.

A conviction for interfering with commerce by threats or violence carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. In determining an actual sentence, the assigned District Court Judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation in this case was conducted by members of the Tucson FBI office. The prosecution is being handled by Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER: CR-11-2285-JCG-GEE
RELEASE NUMBER: 2011-173 (Sabori Indictment)