A mortgage broker admitted in federal court to an extortion conspiracy that defrauded four individuals, including two police officers, out of their money and property.
According to court documents and statements, Robert Cusic Jr. told the scam victims that they were the subjects of criminal investigations by the Internal Revenue Service in connection with investment properties that they owned.
Cusic, who purportedly owned a New Jersey real estate company, advised the individuals to use the legal representation of Thomas Frey to avoid prosecution from this false investigation. Cusic told the victims that he had a special relationship with the special agents and the investigation could be converted form a criminal tax investigation to an IRS “desk audit,” which would be a civil matter.
The victims were required to pay $20,000 in order to obtain the services of Frey. Without using Frey's services, Cusic told the four victims that they were likely going to be arrested, court documents said.
To legitimize their conspiracy, the defendants showed the victims business cards from the IRS special agents. However, court documents said these cards were given to Frey when he represented a defendant in a tax case several years ago.
Cusic admitted in court that the goal of the conspiracy was to obtain approximately $80,000 in fees for Frey and to have the victims sell their properties to Frey's limited liability company. Cusic would have received a portion of the fees, a percentage of the sale price of each of the investment properties sold to Frey and property management fees on any of the properties that were sold.
The extortion charge Cusic pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28, 2012.
