Crime & Safety
Man Accused of Trying to Extort Mentor Business
Geno Battaia threatened to spread rumors about a former employer if they did not give him money, according to police
An Eastlake man is accused of trying to extort a Mentor business.
Geno Battaia, 31, was arraigned on a count of extortion Thursday in .
On Oct. 11, Battaia sent an email to , his former employer, and threatened to spread harmful rumors about the business unless it gave him money, Mentor Police Capt. Ken Gunsch said.
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Battaia turned himself in on a warrant. Consequently, Judge John Trebets released him on a personal bond.
If convicted of extortion, Battaia could face between one and five years in prison.
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Battaia has a criminal history. In 2007, he was convicted of assaulting two Willoughby police officers and sentenced to a year in prison.
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