Extortion charge filed
Florida corrections officer demanded money from work- release inmate, state says
AFlorida Department of Corrections employeewas arrestedonextortionandbribery charges onWednesday.
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigation led to the arrest of Department of Corrections Work Release Center officer Erik Boe, 34, ofWest Palm Beach. He and an unidentified man, also with the Department of Corrections, are accused of extorting a work release inmate, according to an FDLE arrest report.
Ryan Anderson, the inmate at the work release center, is serving a three- year, fourmonth sentence on a charge of dealing in stolen property. He said Boe and the other man showed up where he worked at a Lake Park auto paintingandrepairshoponFeb. 15.
The unexpected visit stood out since the menvisited only one ortwotimes in the nine months since Anderson worked there, according to the report.
But Anderson said the menweren’t there to check on him. Instead, they demanded he pay $ 370 to avoid facing confinement due to allegations that Anderson was selling prescription drugs at the corrections center, investigators said.
When the $ 90 in Anderson’s pocket wasn’t enough, Anderson asked the auto shop manager for another $ 200 and then another $ 80. The men walked out, telling Anderson they’ll be back for another $ 500 around lunchtime the following Monday, according to the report.
An investigator said security footage at the shop shows one of the men walking out with what appears to be cash in his hand.
The incident went unnoticed until that Monday, when Anderson walked to a bus stop to take his two- hour ride to work. But Boeandthe othermanwerewaiting for him. They offered to drive Anderson to work, something they weren’t allowed to do, according to the report.
The group got to Anderson’s job where Anderson got out, went over to a co- worker and used a co- worker’s cellphone to call 911.
During the subsequent investigation, both corrections employees were interviewed. Boe said another inmate tipped him off about Anderson’s alleged drug dealing. The unidentified employee said Anderson admitted to bringing pills to the corrections center.
Investigators determined neither man had investigative training nor had they notified anyone of their suspicions about Anderson.
Boewas charged with official misconduct and booked into Palm Beach County Jail on Wednesday. He was released the next day after posting $ 10,000 bail. The status of the other employee is unknown.