Lynn woman charged with ransom extortion plot against Bostonians
Boston Police report an arrest in connection with a scheme in which Bostonians would be called and ordered to pay ransom for kidnapped relatives - who turned out not to be kidnapped:
In all of the incidents, victims are contacted via phone and told that a relative has been kidnapped; money is then demanded for the safe release of the alleged kidnapping victim. The specific details of these incidents vary; however, almost all of the victims have been Hispanic.
Victims were ordered to use Wester Union to wire money to the "kidnapper," police say.
Mary R. Lozada, 34, of Lynn is charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, larceny over $250 and extortion by false report of a crime. She is charged in connection with two specific incidents involving calls to residents of Jamaica Plain and Mission Hill last month, but police say their investigation continues.
Innocent, etc.
Ad:
Comments
Could be involved in 30 incidents
Lozada was ordered held in lieu of $5,000 bail at her arraignment in Roxbury District Court, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office says.
Prosecutors say Lozada might have been involved in as many as 30 extortion attempts in Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Lynn. Phones seized from Lozada have been tracked to eight attempts, only one of which succeeded, the DA's office says. In a statement, the DA's office described its version of the two extortion calls for which Lozada was charged today: