A jury convicted Franklin D. Conley on five counts related to an extortion plot, according to Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Carole S. Rendon, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland office.
Officials said Conley, 28, was convicted on one count of violating the Hobbs Act, three counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense, and one count of interstate communication with intent to extort.
He was acquitted of one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, authorities reported.
Conley and Patrick Griffin repeatedly threatened a victim and his family, starting in February 2015, with serious physical harm or death if they were not given money or introduced to a source of illegal drugs, according to court documents and trial testimony.
Conley was scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29. Griffin, 29, also of Akron, pleaded guilty to his role in the crime and is waiting sentencing.
