Attorney: Don't judge Calif. extortion suspect yet - Cops and Courts - Charleston Daily Mail

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Cops and Courts

Friday August 24, 2012

Attorney: Don't judge Calif. extortion suspect yet

by The Associated Press

The Associated Press

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An attorney for the California man accused of trying to extort $13 million from a West Virginia coal executive says people shouldn't rush to judgment.

Charleston lawyer Troy Giatras has been hired by the family of Vivek M. Shah to represent the West Hollywood resident.

Shah was indicted this week on charges he threatened to kill relatives of Foresight Reserves owner Christopher Cline if Cline didn't pay up.

Court documents say Shah targeted four other wealthy but unnamed victims, including a film studio co-founder from Connecticut, two oil and gas millionaires in Texas and Florida, and the founder of an internet company in Chicago.

Federal prosecutors won't identify those victims.

Giatras said Friday that Shah is a 25-year-old aspiring actor who should be in West Virginia next week.

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