Medway Man Pleads Guilty to Extortion Activities

BOSTON – Baljit Singh Rehal, a/k/a Joel Rehal, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Worcester to an extortion charge.

Rehal, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of collection of extension of credit by extortionate means.  In October 2014, Rehal and another man were arrested after the issuance of a criminal complaint against them on the same charges.  Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2015.

Between Dec. 21, 2012 and Jan. 10, 2014, Rehal and others perpetrated a scheme whereby they convinced a victim that he owed money to the FBI for an alleged whistleblower investigation, and proceeded to collect $180,000 from the victim for payment of this alleged investigation.  When the victim could not come up with the money, Rehal and others would purportedly loan the victim money and have him sign promissory notes to repay the money to them.

The maximum sentence under the statute is 20 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of the loss, whichever is greater.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Boston Field Division, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office.