Timothy Litzenburg, Extortion, Virginia 2023

Virginia Attorney Arrested for Extortion Scheme

Timothy Litzenburg, a 37-year-old licensed attorney from Charlottesville, Virginia, was arrested on federal extortion and interstate threat charges for allegedly trying to extort a public company by threatening to inflict substantial financial and reputational harm on the company if his demands for a $200 million payment disguised as a purported “consulting agreement” were not met.

According to the criminal complaint, in approximately October 2019, Litzenburg approached a company (Company 1) and threatened to make public statements alleging that Company 1 had significant civil liability for manufacturing a purportedly harmful chemical used in a common household product used to kill weeds. He allegedly also said that after making these statements, he would use media and other means to find plaintiffs to sue Company 1.

Litzenburg allegedly threatened that he would only refrain from any such public actions if Company 1 (and its parent company) paid Litzenburg and his associates $200 million in “consulting fees.” In exchange for the $200 million, Litzenburg allegedly indicated that he would not tell any existing or future clients about Company 1 or its purported role in manufacturing the product.

Litzenburg allegedly communicated his extortionate demands by telephone and email and during an in-person meeting. During the in-person meeting, Litzenburg allegedly threatened that he and his law associates would be Company 1’s “biggest problem” unless they received the $200 million payment, and that the public disclosure of the purportedly damaging information about Company 1 would cause a “40 percent stock loss,” and “public relations nightmare” for Company 1’s publicly traded parent company.

Charges: Transmitting interstate communications with intent to extort, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to commit extortion and transmit interstate communications with intent to extort.

Arrested: Timothy Litzenburg, 37, of Charlottesville, Virginia, was arrested on an unknown date in approximately October 2019.

Bail: Litzenburg was released on bail.

Defendant Information:

Defendant: Timothy Litzenburg

City and State: Charlottesville, Virginia

Exact Date: Approximately October 2019

Sentence or Outcome: Released on bail.

Dollar Amounts: $200 million

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/virginia-attorney-arrested-engaging-scheme-extort-public-company