Poconos’ woman, man accused of trying to extort wealthy doctor out of $100K

AR-150609602

Two Poconos' residents have been charged with trying to extort a wealthy New York City doctor out of $100,000, according to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office.

According to the DA's Office, on June 3 detectives received information about a pair of extortionists operating in the Poconos.

Mari-Lyn Normando, 26, of Effort, and Brandon Hill, 34, of Tobyhanna, are accused of creating a complex scheme to extort money from the doctor. Normando began an intimate affair with the doctor, eventually telling him that she was pregnant with his child.

Soon after the relationship started, the victim received an email from a "John Doe" demanding cash. In the email, John Doe said that he had video footage of the doctor committing a criminal act. John Doe and Normando threatened to release the video footage to the media if the victim didn’t pay $100,000 within 30 days.

On May 28, the victim met with an unidentified adult male (John Doe) in a remote area outside of A Pocono Country Place and turned over $5,000 in cash.

On June 3, the victim received another call from John Doe who demanded an additional $10,000 be paid by midnight June 4.

The victim, through his attorney, contacted authorities in New York and reported the incident.

Because the payoffs were occurring in Monroe County, the investigation was turned over to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Detectives from the District Attorney’s Office and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police set up a sting operation with John Doe.

A detective, pretending to be the victim, arranged to meet with John Doe outside of A Pocono Country Place to deliver the $10,000.

Detectives, hidden nearby, watched as Hill arrived at the meeting place, driven there by Normando.

As Hill approached the victim’s vehicle, detectives attempted to arrest Hill. Hill fled into the woods, but was arrested after a short chase. Normando was arrested while seated in her car.

Normando was charged with two counts of theft by extortion, two counts of conspiracy to commit theft by extortion and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility. Hill was charged with one count of theft by extortion, one count of conspiracy to commit theft by extortion, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of flight to avoid apprehension and one count of escape.

Both defendants were arraigned before Magisterial District Justice Anthony D Fluegel. Normando’s bail was set at $20,000. Hill’s bail was set at $10,000.

The investigation into identifying John Doe continues.

EP-150609602

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