A Levittown man, with two accomplices, conspired to extort $1,500 from his grandmother to pay off his “drug dealer,” according to Middletown Township police.
The lurid tale took place on April 12 when Samuel Painter, 43, called his grandmother telling her he was being” held hostage” and would be “killed” if she didn’t pay of his drug debt, court records said.
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The woman told police the name on the caller id was a “Pat Bussman,” who she didn’t know.
The victim reported to police, that while she was speaking to her grandson, she heard a voice in the background and asked Painter if he was the drug dealer in question. Painter told her yes, and she demanded to speak with him, police said.
The man on the phone warned her he worked for “nasty people” and was giving her till noon to pay him or he would “kill” her grandson, authorities said.
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Middletown Police listened in on a second call from the Bussman listed number as Painter was told his grandmother that he now needed the $1,200 by 10 a.m. and to meet him at the Blue Fountain Diner located on Lincoln Highway in Middletown, police said.
The officer on scene contacted detectives who obtained photo id information for Bussman and Painter through the Pennsylvania Driver License data base and provided the information to a team of officers prior to setting up surveillance at the Middletown diner, court records state.
Detective Andrew Amoroso, in an unmarked car, followed the woman to the diner, close to high-noon, as Detective Nicastro was already stationed in the diner parking lot. Nicastro observed a green Ford pickup truck operated by Bussman circle the area twice prior to parking in the lot, authorities said.
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Painter approached his grandmother at the diner and asked “where is the money” and then police arrested him, court documents state.
Police also took into custody Bussman, 45, of Morrisville, and the a third man Larry Clegg, 25, of Trenton.
According to the police affidavit, Clegg said all three suspects were in the truck when Painter made the calls to his grandmother. He apologized for threatening Painter but only did it to get the money owed to him.
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The three conspirators were arraigned by District Court Judge John J. Kelly and faces one conspiracy charge each.
A preliminary hearing is set for April 18 in front of District Court Judge Robert L. Wagner
All there are out on bail in lieu of 10 percent of $5,000 bail.
