Former Business Vice President Indicted For Attempting To Extort His Former Employer

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bryan R. Chapman, age 62, of Missouri, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on extortion charges.

According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Chapman was the Vice President of a nationwide business located in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  After he was fired, Chapman attempted to extort the business by claiming that he would expose that the company had taken trade secrets from a supplier.  Chapman demanded six-months’ severance in exchange for his silence, which would have amounted to over $100,000.  The company refused to be extorted. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the extortion offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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