Princeton Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Extorting $233,000 from Woman
A Princeton man was sentenced to state prison today for stealing approximately $233,000 from a woman he met in Atlantic City.
Anthony K. White, 42, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison, including 10 years of parole ineligibility, by Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio and was ordered to pay $233,726 in restitution.
White was convicted at trial in August by an Atlantic County jury of charges of second-degree theft by deception, second-degree theft by extortion and third-degree terroristic threats.
White allegedly stole more than $233,000 from a woman he met in Atlantic City through mutual acquaintances in January of 2013. He initially convinced the woman to invest $18,000 through him in an entertainment “production company” that two of his friends purportedly owned. He promised her a 25-percent return on her investment. Over the next two months, he pressured her into giving him additional funds totaling more than $215,000, continuing to promise she would get the money back with a profit. He then resorted to threats against the woman and her family to obtain money, law enforcement officials said. During the period in question, White gambled away hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Atlantic City casinos.
After a few weeks, the vwoman questioned White about her money, and he told her that people had been arrested and $40,000 was confiscated by police because his two friends had used the money to buy drugs. He continued to promise that she would get her money back with interest, but insisted that if she didn’t give him more money she would be arrested. The woman then borrowed $50,000 from her parents and gave it to White. He began asking about the parents, including where they live, and threatened that if the money stopped coming, things would “get bad” for the parents and their house might burn down. White also assaulted the woman, punching her in both legs. The woman then reported White’s crimes to the New Jersey State Police.
The investigation was led by Detective Sgt. 1st Class Paul Horsey of the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau, Financial Crimes Unit, Detective Kenneth Crane of the Division of Criminal Justice Casino Prosecution Unit, and Deputy Attorney General Maher.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.