Former Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Attempted Extortion

BOSTON, MA—A Pennsylvania woman who fled from the United States under threat of prosecution in August 2000, has pled guilty to attempting to extort a Boston-based financier while she was a fugitive from justice.

United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Office announced today that LAURA GOLDMAN, 51, pled guilty to two counts of attempted extortion. Sentencing is set for December 9, 2009 before the Honorable Richard G. Stearns.

According to the Indictment and documents filed in the case, GOLDMAN made a series of extortionate threats against the primary victim and his family members between October 2001 and October 2002, while Goldman was a fugitive in Israel. GOLDMAN was seeking to obtain from the victim payments for her “mental health treatment and other substantial monies.” GOLDMAN was in Israel after fleeing from the United States in August 2000, after learning that a federal criminal Complaint and arrest warrant had been issued against her in Boston. The Complaint charged her with making interstate threats against the victim in July 2000.

GOLDMAN faces up to 20 years' imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the two attempted extortion counts. The plea agreement calls for GOLDMAN to serve an extended period of probation with strict conditions. Any violation of the terms of probation will subject GOLDMAN to a substantial period of incarceration.

“The plea agreement reflects the thoughtful consideration of the unique set of circumstances in this case, and is focused on ensuring the continued safety of the victim and his family, as well as the community at large. It was reached after weighing the seriousness and age of the crime, the needs of the victim and his family, and the defendant’s mental health,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. McNeil in the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit.