Seventh-Inning Stretch · Off the Bench
Dirt on the Outfielder
United States v. Howard Spira (1991)
Charge: Attempted extortion and threats - demanding more money from a team ownerCourt: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New YorkDocket: Off the Bench
Did demanding more money from the owner, backed by threats, amount to attempted extortion?
The facts
A self-described gambler had once worked around a star outfielder's charitable foundation. He offered the outfielder's team owner damaging information about the player, and in January 1990 the owner paid him $40,000. Prosecutors said he then came back for more, using threats against both the owner and the player. He was indicted on eight counts.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: United States v. Howard Spira, Federal jury verdict, May 8, 1991 (trial held in Manhattan; no reported opinion)
Read more at scholar-dev.cloud.lib.vt.edu. The source reveals the outcome.