Four former law enforcement and military officers are facing charges for conducting a sham raid on a California businessman’s home in 2019. The defendants allegedly physically assaulted the man, forcing him to sign away rights to his multimillion-dollar business. They were acting on behalf of the victim’s business partner, a wealthy Chinese national, who had been disputing ownership of the business. The defendants, identified as Steven Arthur Lankford, Glen Louis Cozart, Max Samuel Bennett Turbett, and Matthew Phillip Hart, have been indicted on charges including conspiracy to commit extortion and deprivation of rights under color of law.
The victim’s wife and children were present during the raid, and the victim was threatened with deportation and physical harm. The defendants coerced the businessman into signing settlement agreements transferring assets worth millions of dollars to the business partner. The scheme was orchestrated by the business partner and Turbett, who had been contacted for assistance in resolving the dispute.
The defendants planned the raid and carried it out, using their law enforcement and military backgrounds to intimidate the victim and his family. Despite attempts to cover up the incident, the victim ultimately contacted the police. The defendants were paid for their actions, with Turbett’s company receiving a substantial sum.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison for extortion-related charges and up to 10 years for deprivation of rights. The case highlights the importance of holding public officials accountable for abusing their authority and violating civil rights.
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