Individual Sentenced For His Participation In Extortion Scheme

SAN JUAN, P.R. – On March 1, 2016, defendant Diomedes Joshua Alcantara-Troche was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Jay A. Garcia-Gregory to serve a term of imprisonment of 2 years, and 3 years of supervised released, for his participation in an extortion scheme, announced today Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.    

On December 1, 2014, the victim received a telephone call from two unidentified males. The individuals, who were later identified as inmates currently incarcerated in a state prison, advised the victim that they had kidnapped her son, and would harm him unless the victim provided them with $6,000.00 US Dollars (USD). The inmates later agreed to lower the request to $1,000. The inmates also warned the victim not to contact the police or they would harm her son. Upon receiving the initial extortion telephone call from the inmates, the victim went to withdraw the money and with the assistance of a bank employee she managed to contact her son, who is a federal agent.  Her son confirmed that he had not been kidnapped. The victim agreed to assist federal law enforcement agents and proceeded to comply with the instructions provided by the inmates to make the payment of $1,000.00 USD.

The inmates instructed the victim to bring $1,000.00 USD, to an area in Carolina. Upon receiving the money, the inmates stated that they would release her son without incident. After arriving at the location the federal agents spotted Alcantara-Troche driving a car that belonged to his girlfriend, Lorenly Garcia-Echevarria. Alcantara-Troche was detained by federal agents. Alcantara-Troche indicated that his girlfriend, Lorenly Garcia-Echevarria provided him the cellular telephone and the vehicle used to pick up the extortion money. Alcantara-Troche and Garcia-Echevarria were going to earn approximately $300.00 USD for their participation in the extortion scheme.

Co-defendant Lorenly Garcia was also sentenced to 2 years for her participation.

“This is a very common extortion scheme used by inmates in state prison in order to make some easy money from victims who fear their loved ones are in danger. We urge the public to contact law enforcement if they receive threats similar to this one,” said U.S Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.

The case was investigated by HSI and the FBI and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Normary Figueroa.