Thomas E. Ray, Extortion, Kentucky 2013
Convicted Extortionist Faces Prison Time
A Jackson, Mississippi, man has been convicted of attempting to extort $3.5 million from the University of Louisville Athletic Association. Thomas E. Ray, 36, was found guilty of extortion by means of a threatening interstate communication in U.S. District Court.
According to evidence presented at trial, Ray used the alias 'Melinda White' when he sent an email communication from his home in Jackson to the Commonwealth of Kentucky on April 23, 2013. The email threatened to injure the reputation of the University of Louisville Athletic Association and demanded $3.5 million.
The jury deliberated less than two hours before convicting Ray. He faces no more than two years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a one-year period of supervised release. Ray was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal Service in Louisville and is scheduled for sentencing before Chief Judge Joseph H. McKinley Jr. on November 3, 2014.
Assistant United States Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Louisville Metro Police Department, and Office of the Kentucky Attorney General.
Ray's conviction is a significant blow to those who attempt to extort money from institutions through threatening and intimidating means.
The University of Louisville Athletic Association is relieved that the case has been resolved, and they are grateful for the hard work of the investigators and prosecutors who brought this case to a successful conclusion.
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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