Aug 30, 2008

Three arrested in blackmail scheme

Police: Businessman told to pay $250K or face exposure on Internet

By Jason Green / Daily News Staff Writer

Los Altos police Friday announced the arrest of three people suspected of blackmailing a married "Silicon Valley businessman" for $250,000 by threatening to post on the Web a secretly shot tape of him having sex at a hotel.

Saman Tahir, 19, and Sagar Lal Sadarangani, 20, both of Fremont, and Sameem Sultan, 29, of San Jose, were arrested Thursday on suspicion of extortion, conspiracy and recording a personal act without consent, said Detective Sgt. John Korges of the Los Altos Police Department.

Police are seeking a fourth person for questioning - the woman captured on tape with the victim.

Korges said the suspects targeted the victim through a social networking site and orchestrated the sexual encounter at a local hotel. Hidden cameras in the room captured the meeting.

"We think they had this extortion scheme planned out in advance," Korges said.

Korges did not disclose the victim's name Friday but described him as a "Silicon Valley businessman with ties to the Los Altos community."

The victim approached police on Tuesday claiming a group of people was threatening to release the tape on the Internet if he didn't pay them $250,000, Korges said. He also expressed concern for the safety of his family.

Police arranged for the victim to drop a large sum of money - not the full $250,000 - at the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and swooped in as the suspects made their getaway, Korges said.

The Palo Alto Police Department and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department assisted in the sting.

Tahir, Sadarangani and Sultan were arrested without incident. All of them have since posted bail, Korges said. A Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman couldn't be reached Friday evening to provide further details about the case.

Korges said such blackmail schemes are nothing new, but this is the first he's encountered where the victim was threatened with exposure on the Internet.

"It's a level of sophistication we haven't seen before," he said.

Police are investigating whether the suspects targeted other individuals and are reviewing computers and other evidence seized Wednesday at the suspects' homes, Korges said.

"We think there's a potential for a lot of silent victims," he said.

Police are asking anyone with additional information about the case to contact Detective Sgt. John Korges of the Los Altos Police Department at 650-947-2770.



E-mail Jason Green at jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com.