J.Lo Extortion Plot Thwarted
Her love may not cost a thing, but her wedding video nearly set J.Lo back big time.
Two men accused of attempting to extort $1 million from Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony in exchange for the salsa singer's stolen laptop, which held a digital copy of the couple's June 2004 nuptials, were arrested during an NYPD sting operation Tuesday.
Tito Moses, 31, and Steven Wortman, 40, were busted after trying to sell the video to undercover cops posing as Anthony's associates.
"They were shocked because they thought they were coming for their payday--and instead, they got the surprise of their lives," Major Case Squad Inspector Michael Hines told the New York Post.
The men were arraigned Wednesday night on charges of conspiracy, attempted grand larceny and possession of stolen property.
According to police, the alleged extortionists first got hold of the laptop on Oct. 30, after stealing Anthony's car, which contained the computer, while he was filming a music video on location in Linden, New Jersey. Cops later located the vehicle in Newark, but the laptop was MIA.
Weeks later, a man calling himself "Mr. Moses" attempted to sell the video to several media outlets, including People and Us Weekly magazines, Access Hollywood and the New York Post, all of which refused to pay for the footage.
The man then contacted Marc Anthony Productions and demanded a big-bucks payment for the laptop.
Assistant District Attorney Jordan Arnold told the Post that Moses and Wortman "essentially held it for ransom" and when their seven-figure price tag was not immediately accepted, the two men "threatened to destroy" the video.
Lawyers for Anthony, 36, and Lopez, 37, touched base with the NYPD, and a detective, posing as a member of the couple's team, began negotiating with Moses. According to the Post, the detective talked down the price to $200,000. Moses and Wortman, whose rap sheets include manslaughter, theft and weapons charges, were collared when they showed up for the money exchange.
"Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez are completely thrilled," Hines said.
The couple are currently in New York City filming El Cantante, a biopic of salsa singer Hector Lavoe that they are jointly producing and starring in.
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