Philadelphia man uses gay sex ad to blackmail victim
A man in the US city of Philadelphia faces five years in jail for blackmailing a man who responded to the offer of sex in an online advert.
Steven Beisher yesterday pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by extortion.
Burlington County Superior Court heard 42-year-old Beisher offered himself for sex on the website, Craigslist.
Burlington County Times reports the victim responded to the ad in August 2012 and sent Beisher a naked photo of himself. Beisher found the man’s telephone number and address and called him the following day, threatening to expose the victim to his wife and family if he did not pay money.
At Beisher’s demand, the victim met him seven times during nine days at various locations in Philadelphia, making payments ranging from $200 (£120) to $400. The victim eventually refused to meet Beisher again and reported him to state police.
Beisher has eight previous felony convictions in Pennsylvania, including five for burglary and two for receiving stolen property. Most recently, he was convicted of theft by extortion in October 2012.
Under the plea agreement offered by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, which prosecuted the case, Beisher would be sentenced to five years in prison.
