Two people have been charged with extortion after police detectives say they arrested the pair for trying to sell what they said was embarrassing information about singer/musician Stevie Wonder, reports AP.
A man claiming to be Wonder’s nephew has been charged with attempting to extort him by threatening to go to the tabloids and say he’s the product of an incestuous relationship between Wonder and Wonder’s sister unless the singer gave up some big bucks, reports TMZ.
Alpha Lorenzo Walker was arrested May 2 after being trapped in a sting operation. Reportedly, Walker initially demanded $5 million from Stevie but was shut down and eventually lowered his demand to $10,000.
Walker remains jailed in Los Angeles without bail because of another court case. Diaz is being held on $95,000 bail, according to the AP.
Alpha Lorenzo Walker and his girlfriend Tamara Eileen Diaz have been jailed since their arrest on May 2, charged with felony extortion. Both have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to appear in court on May 16 for a hearing in which a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for them to stand trial, reports TMZ.
According to a felony complaint, Walker and Diaz attempted to obtain money from Wonder, who is identified by his birth name, Steveland Morris.
Walker, 38, was on probation at the time of his arrest after pleading no contest to grand theft in May 2011. A judge issued a suspended three-year prison sentence in that case and he is due in court for a probation violation hearing May 31.
Diaz was placed on three years of probation after pleading no contest in February 2011 to possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, court records show.
