Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Extortion

BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield in connection with on an extension of credit by extortionate means.

Anthony J. Scibelli, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of collecting on an extension of credit by extortionate means. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Sept. 3, 2021. Scibelli was indicted in July 2019.

In 2017, Scibelli provided a $5,000 loan to the victim, who made monthly payments of $1,300 until June 2019. Beginning in May 2019, Scibelli used threats as he attempted to collect on that line of credit. Specifically, on June 19, 2019, Scibelli threatened and beat the victim’s head and body for failing to make the monthly $1,300 payment. During the beating, the defendant threatened that the victim must have all the money “on the first,” referring to the 1^st of the month.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting the case.