Man Busted for Babyface Extortion

Tue., May. 23, 2006 2:15 PM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Blackmail. It's a crime indeed.

A man accused of trying to extort $9 million from Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds by claiming to be his illegitimate son was busted in Indianapolis on Friday.

John T. Clark, a 23-year-old Indianapolis native, was nabbed in a sting after meeting with the Grammy-winning singer and producer's attorney and accepting a fake check for the above mentioned amount in return for not going public with a story that he was the product of his mother's illicit affair with Edmonds.

"Clark told Edmonds that unless Edmonds paid him the money, he would go to the entertainment media and spread the story that Edmonds had had an affair with his mother and that he is Edmonds' son," District Attorney Carl Brizzi said. "Edmonds has categorically denied having any contact with Clark's mother."

Clark was charged with felony theft and one misdemeanor charge of intimidation and was being held on $100,000 bond at the Marion County Jail. A trial date has been set for Aug. 24.

Per the affidavit, Clark called Edmonds' lawyer, William Briggs, on May 1 and informed him that he possessed documents alleging he was the spawn of the musician. He then threatened to contact the Oprah Winfrey Show and tell all unless Edmonds, who was born in Indianapolis and spent much of his childhood there, ponied up $20 million. He subsequently lowered the amount to $9 million.

"Briggs contacted our office and we made arrangements to have him come to Indianapolis to meet with Clark," prosecutor's spokesman Roger Ray told E! Online.

The meeting was set for last Friday at Indianapolis' Palomino Club at which point Clark agreed to sign a fake nondisclosure agreement that Briggs had prepared in exchange for the payoff. As he left the restaurant, police took him into custody.

Rayl noted that the suspect had recently finished a three year term for robbery. Neither Briggs nor Babyface's camp could be reached for comment.

Babyface already has two kids, nine-year-old Brandon and four-year-old Dylan, with soon-to-be former missus, Tracey Edmonds. The latter officially filed for divorce in January, three months after the couple announced they were separating after 13 years of marriage.

Babyface is famous for a string of R&B hits including "It's No Crime," "Whip Appeal," "My Kind of Girl," and "Tender Lover," as well helping to launch the careers of Toni Braxton and TLC.

The crooner has written and produced for a variety of big name artists including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Eric Clapton and Whitney Houston among others. Additionally, he has made also his mark as a film producer, shepherding Soul Food and Josie and the Pussycats to the big screen.

If found guilty, Clark could spend anywhere from two to nine years in the slammer.