Pair Convicted of Attempted Extortion : Court: Stripper and armed man tried to get $80,000 from her 72-year-old admirer, who had already lent her $56,000 that has not been repaid. Jury rejects contention that the gun used was fake.

A Ventura County jury on Friday found a stripper and her cohort guilty of attempted extortion for a botched shakedown of a 72-year-old admirer.

Robin Goebel, 30, faces a four-year prison term and Louis Ottilo, 57, faces 13 years when they are sentenced Dec. 6.

Each was convicted of attempted extortion with a handgun. Ottilo, a part-time liquor store clerk and Canyon Country resident, faces a harsher sentence because he handled the weapon.

The two would-be shakedown artists had admitted to the plot during their four-day trial, but had contended that they used a fake gun in an attempt to steal $80,000 from Joseph Nakashima of Gardena earlier this year. If the jury believed that argument, the two would have faced less severe sentences.

But the jury rejected that defense after deliberating for nearly two days in a case that Deputy Dist. Atty. Audry Rohn dubbed a “bad B movie.”

“The argument that a fake gun was used added a sense of sophistication [to the scheme] that was not there,” juror Roger Fulton said. “I thought there was no common sense in any of the three parties.”

Neither defendant showed emotion when the verdict was read, while Nakashima sat impassively in the gallery.

Nakashima met Goebel at the Jetstrip Cabaret near Los Angeles International Airport, where she has danced under the stage name Bobbi for 3 1/2 years. Workers at the club said Nakashima visited the club regularly and quickly displayed a fondness for Goebel, whom he tipped and paid extra for private nude dances on his bar table.

Nakashima, a widower and retired warehouse worker, said he struck up a 15-month relationship with Goebel and during that time lent her $56,000, which has not been repaid. She said she needed $20,000 of the money to pay off an abusive boyfriend and another $5,600 for a breast implant operation.

Goebel said she needed the rest of the money to pay her bills and support her twin 6-year-old sons.

Nakashima testified that the two never had sex, but that they would exchange massages and Goebel would bare her breasts for him. He testified that he loved Goebel, that he believed she loved him and that the two talked of marriage.

On Feb. 16, Goebel called Nakashima to her Simi Valley apartment under the guise of a belated Valentine’s Day celebration. As the pair sat on the couch, Ottilo, 57, burst through the door and pointed a gun at the two. Ottilo demanded that Nakashima pay him $80,000--his retirement savings--or he would harm Goebel. He also displayed a knife and threatened to cut Goebel’s breast.

After Nakashima tried to withdraw $40,000 from his Torrance bank later that day, a suspicious teller contacted police.

“I think she saw how easy it was to get $20,000 from him, that the two figured they would have no problem [getting the $80,000],” juror Jeff Kabey said, recalling the loan to allegedly rid Goebel of the abusive boyfriend.

Both defendants declined to comment after the verdicts were read and remain free on bail until their sentencing.

Nakashima read a brief statement, saying he wanted to “get on with my life.” He refused to answer questions outside the courtroom.