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Feds Say Man Threatened, Tried to Extort Former Fresno Co-Workers

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Federal agents arrested a man on Thursday who allegedly tried to extort three former co-workers at a Fresno business. (Shutterstock)
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Federal agents arrested a man on Thursday who allegedly tried to extort three former co-workers at a Fresno business.

A six-count indictment accuses William Lee Robinson, 40, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, of sending threatening messages to his former supervisor and others in an extortion plot.

Stalking is among the counts.

According to charging documents, Williams threatened to harm the supervisor’s daughter unless he received $10,000 to $20,000.

Fired in 2017, Threats Followed

Robinson made the threats and demands after the health management company O.A.I. fired him in November 2017. He worked for the company for six months as a systems engineer before his termination.

“Robinson referenced the locations of the employees’ personal residences, made repeated references to visiting the employees at their residences, and threatened to kill and physically harm the employees and their families,” charging documents state.

“He wanted O.A.I to pay him between $10,000 and $20,000, which included the costs Robinson incurred when he moved to New York” after getting fired.

Threats Made Via Email, Text Messages

Robinson allegedly transmitted the threats via email and text messages while residing in New York.

If convicted, he faces as many as 20 years in prison.

The FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincente A. Tennerelli is the prosecutor.

Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

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