Officer to Be Tried in Extortion Scheme

A Los Angeles police department motorcycle officer has admitted to participating in an extortion plot with five others to steal $1 million from a Lakewood real estate broker, a prosecutor told a Los Angeles County judge Wednesday.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Max Huntsman told of the alleged confession of Melvin Leon Boyd, 38, during a preliminary hearing before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Suzanne Person. Person ruled that the prosecution had enough evidence against Boyd, Walter Duarte, 35, and Jose Quinonez, 34, to hold them for trial. An arraignment is set for Oct. 25. Three others have entered pleas of no contest and are cooperating with authorities, Huntsman said.

Huntsman said Boyd, a 12-year veteran of the department, has confessed to accompanying Reginald Evans, 26, who was posing as a law enforcement officer, to the business of the broker to extort the money in May. Boyd was posing as a detective, Huntsman said, and listened quietly as Evans warned the broker that he would be arrested on some criminal charges and his children taken away from him if he didn’t give them money.

Huntsman said the broker only had several thousand dollars in cash and an expensive watch at the time, but agreed to subsequent meetings to provide the rest. Evans took the cash and watch, all of which was valued at less than $16,000, according to Huntsman. Huntsman said Boyd did not participate with Evans and other defendants to collect the additional money.

Huntsman said the plot fell apart after the broker alerted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The suspects were charged with robbery and extortion.

Boyd’s lawyer, Bradley Brunon, said his client’s role was very minor. He said Boyd initially went to the broker’s office believing he was there in a supporting role to help Evans collect a debt. “Then it evolved into this plan,” he said. Brunon said Boyd got about $1,000.

He said Boyd has been suspended from the police department.

Evans has entered pleas of no contest to extortion and to illegally selling the watch to a pawnbroker.

Two other defendants, Kristina Dillon, 19, and Milargo Santamaria, have pleaded no contest to auto tampering, Huntsman said.