Thread: Man accused of attempted extortion of Mexico retailer

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Man accused of attempted extortion of Mexico retailer
Irving: Letters included kidnap threat, payment options


11:28 PM CDT on Monday, May 8, 2006
By TIM WYATT / The Dallas Morning News


A 44-year-old Coppell man faces federal charges over an extortion attempt in which a wealthy Mexican grocery store chain owner who lives in Irving was told to pay up to $2 million for his family to be left alone, authorities said.

Alejandro DeJesus Trejo appeared before a Dallas federal magistrate Monday afternoon.

He was arrested Friday by FBI agents and Irving police after his plan to pick up a bundle of cash undetected was foiled, authorities said.

Mr. Trejo, a Mexican citizen, admitted to FBI agents that he set up a money drop in the extortion attempt, according to court records. He remained in custody pending another court hearing once he hires a defense lawyer.

The man identified as his intended victim, Alberto Soberon Martin, lives in Irving with his wife and is listed as vice chairman of Soriana, the fourth-largest retail chain in Mexico with more than 160 grocery and furniture stores with more than $3.5 billion in sales.

FBI agent Joseph Ullman outlined Mr. Trejo's plan to extort money from Mr. Martin in two letters sent to Mr. Martin's Irving home in the last two weeks.

After Mr. Martin was warned that his children would be kidnapped in coming weeks if he called police, the payment plan options were listed on a sliding scale that increased drastically with time: $180,000 if paid before last Friday; $360,000 if paid before Thursday; or $2 million if kidnappers had to take one of the Martins' children and seek ransom.

If Mr. Martin paid on time on either of the first two plans, the first letter stated, he and his family would be put on the "untouchables" list in the future.

"This is only a business deal," the letter read. "You have our word."

Federal prosecutor Rick Calvert did not offer any details in the hearing, nor would he comment on whether Mr. Trejo acted alone in the unsuccessful plot.

During the brief hearing Monday, Mr. Trejo did not enter a plea, putting off any argument of whether he should remain in custody pending trial. He told U.S. Magistrate Irma Ramirez through an interpreter that he would need "one or two days" to hire a defense lawyer.

Mr. Martin, 46, could not be reached for comment late Monday. He did not attend the arraignment.

Court records show Mr. Martin contacted the FBI shortly after receiving the first extortion letter on May 1, in which Mr. Martin was "invited to buy peace of mind for he and his loved ones with a small investment."

A second letter arrived Wednesday, informing Mr. Martin that he would be called on Friday with instructions, court records show.

Friday morning, a man called Mr. Martin at his home and arranged for the $180,000 money drop near Walnut Street and Belt Line Road in Irving. After the FBI dropped off the package, a man drove up in a 2005 Honda, picked up the package and drove away, court records show.

Police pulled over the car minutes later and identified the driver as Mr. Trejo. His car was registered in his name at his Coppell home. Mr. Trejo, who has no previous criminal record in Texas, bought the $300,000 house more than three years ago and sold it in March.

E-mail twyatt@dallasnews.com

OMG, this really happens all over the place down here. A Mexican store owner, one block over from me was pulled out of their house, in the middle of the night by gun point. They were forced into a vehicle and driven to their store and forced to open the safe. I heard the gunshots and the truck truck drive off.
There was another man, a restaurant owner in the Dallas area who was killed by fellow Mexicans, which tried to extort money from his wife but he was already dead.

You don't want these people around you!!

Dixie

Now this is what we can expect from the Criminal ellement coming across Our borders. They can and will do what they feel to continue thier given trade of crime. The rest can and do resort to crime as they feel do to thier contempt for Law and Order.