Clement Robert Mercaldo, Jr. and Stepfen Gerard Gaither, Extortion and Inter-State Extortion, Maryland 2020

Two Baltimore County Men Facing Federal Extortion Charges

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Clement Robert Mercaldo, Jr., age 61, of Timonium, Maryland and Stepfen Gerard Gaither, age 29, of Randallstown, Maryland, for collection of credit by extortionate means and for interstate communications with intent to extort.

The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Mercaldo loaned money to a Baltimore County restaurant owner. The affidavit alleges that an arson and destruction of property at the restaurant owner’s residence, as well as numerous text message threats received by the restaurant owner and his business partner, are related to recent non-payments of this loan.

Furthermore, evidence collected during the investigation indicates that Mercaldo hired Stepfen Gaither to collect money for these loans and assist with the arson and destruction of property. Mercaldo and Gaither allegedly also discussed and planned the murder of one or both of the victims.

Specifically, in June 2008, the restaurant owner obtained an “interest only” loan from Mercaldo to open a restaurant. The loan was repaid through monthly checks given to Mercaldo, and was fully repaid by 2011. Between 2010 and 2017, the restaurant owner took additional loans from Mercaldo, and Mercaldo insisted that the restaurant owner pay him in cash, weekly.

As detailed in the affidavit, the restaurant owner reduced his monthly payments to Mercaldo in March 2017, due to other outstanding debt. In February 2019, the restaurant owner again cut his monthly payment to Mercaldo. Shortly thereafter, the restaurant owner began receiving threatening phone calls and text messages regarding the debt.

If convicted, Mercaldo and Gaither face a maximum sentence of 20 years for both credit by extortionate means and for interstate communications with intent to extort. The case will be heard in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Maryland. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore County Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/two-baltimore-county-men-facing-federal-extortion-charges