Extortion scam turns online sexual predators into prey

**heart_leigh** · July 20th, 2006, 10:46 PM

Wednesday, July 19, 2006
By Ervin Dyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It's a tale of sex, lies and videotape in which a likely sexual predator becomes the prey.

It's got more drama than a network soap opera: a small-town couple, shadowy meetings in a church parking lot and extortion.

Investigators say the story began in sleepy little Salineville, Ohio, a town of 1,400 people about an hour northwest of Pittsburgh.

There Michael Barnett, 22, and his wife, Maria Catini, 21, used their computer, posed as a 15-year-old in search of sex, lured potential predators to an encounter and then robbed them.

The couple apparently was inspired by the television show "Dateline," which has produced a popular series of reports documenting the proclivity of sexual predators to seek child victims.

Once communication was established, police say the couple arranged to meet the predators, often at Riley's United Methodist Church, a small building with a secluded parking lot.

According to the Carroll County sheriff, the sexual predator was photographed or videotaped by Mr. Barnett, who lay in wait in the shadows.

Banking on the fact that sexual relations with minors is a felony crime, often resulting in lengthy prison terms, the couple would rob the men -- explaining that if they did not do what was asked, they would turn the predator's photograph or video in to authorities along with a transcript of the Internet conversation.

If that wasn't persuasive enough, Mr. Barnett and up to seven possible accomplices were waiting with baseball bats.

But the ruse began to unravel when Carroll County police began to receive tips from neighboring police departments. In one complaint, a suspected solicitor filed his report, saying that he was a victim of a sex crime, extortion and aggravated robbery. That was a week ago.

After investigating, the sheriffs were led to Mr. Barnett and Ms. Catini. Police confiscated the couple's computer and jailed them after charging them with aggravated robbery charges.

Investigators believe the couple may have committed the same type of crime several times, but they were charged only in the incident last week. Carroll County authorities believe at least 14 people where involved in the scheme.

That's not the end of the drama.

Mr. Barnett, it seems, also has been absent without leave from the Army for two years. He is expected to face charges from the Army as well.

The couple could face one to five years in prison and $10,000 fine if they are convicted. Their bond was set at $1 million.

source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06200/706839-85.stm

**buttmunch** · July 21st, 2006, 07:37 AM

I have a hard time working up any sympathy for sexual predators getting robbed. I know what the couple did was wrong but still, it made me laugh.

**Delphinium** · July 22nd, 2006, 03:53 AM

i personally don't feel sorry for the guys who got robbed. hopefully the cops will hunt down the rest and add insult to injury and throw em in jail.

**MrsDark** · July 22nd, 2006, 11:54 AM

Okay, it may be wrong, but my first thought: Wow, what a smart idea!

Maybe they could get these two off the hook by letting them continue to help out with catching the pedos.

Well, maybe the wife. The husband's probably gonna be up a creek with that Army thing.

**tictac** · July 22nd, 2006, 02:58 PM

Yeah, I don't feel sorry for any of the parties involved. And why oh why are these perverts still trying to hook up with underaged teens online??? If I was one of them, I'd be terrified Dateline would be waiting inside for me! Sickos will risk anything to get their rocks off, I guess.

**Sojiita** · July 22nd, 2006, 03:31 PM

That Dateline stuff was horrificly creepy yet also very compelling..you would never have picked alot of them to be pervs and pedos...and they must have been in shock at getting caught cause some of the lies and excuses...please!

**MrsDark** · July 22nd, 2006, 10:59 PM

The insanely stupid extent to which horniness overrides common sense for some people never ceases to amaze me.

**AliceInWonderland** · July 30th, 2006, 05:17 PM

GOOD! THATS THE LEAST THEY DESERVE!

KD · July 30th, 2006, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by Sojiita

That Dateline stuff was horrificly creepy yet also very compelling..you would never have picked alot of them to be pervs and pedos...and they must have been in shock at getting caught cause some of the lies and excuses...please!

Don't feel any sympathy for these perverts. Hope they all get thrown in prison.

Yeah, I love the "excuses"
"I came here to tell her this was wrong"
"I have a 13 yo daughter at home"
"I wasn't going to do anything"

Um, why the condoms, then?