Alleged ransom scam halted
When Andrew Davis called his elderly father at his Rolling Hills home early Saturday afternoon, the situation seemed dire. If the 76-year-old man did not pay several thousand dollars in ransom, his 47-year-old son would be history.
“He said to his father that ‘they need the money or they’re going to kill me,’ ” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Det. Randy Oviedo.
Within hours, however, the story had fallen apart when sheriff’s deputies were called in, and Davis admitted to investigators that there was no kidnapping, Oviedo said.
It wasn’t long before cracks began to show in Davis’ account. During a series of phone conversations with his father, the purported ransom that began at $3,200 crept up to $4,400. Eventually, Davis confessed, saying he was trying to get money to pay a drug debt, Oviedo said.
Davis and another man, Ronald Hohman, 44, were arrested and each was charged with two felony counts, including attempted theft from an elder and attempted grand theft. Both pleaded not guilty.
--
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
