Massachusetts Man Convicted on Extortion Charges

Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, and Clifford C. Holly, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that a federal jury in Albany, New York convicted GIRIDHAR C. SEKHAR, 41, of Brookline, Massachusetts, of one count of attempted extortion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a) and five counts of interstate transmission of an extortionate threat, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(d). He was acquitted of one count of interstate transmission of an extortionate threat.

According to the indictment:

From November 17, 2009 through December 1, 2009, SEKHAR, a managing partner of the venture capital and private equity company FA Technology Ventures Corporation (“FA Technology”), sent electronic mail messages to the general counsel for the Office of the New York State Comptroller threatening to reveal an alleged extramarital affair unless the general counsel recommended that the New York State Comptroller, the sole trustee and manager of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, commit to a proposed $35 million investment of New York State Common Retirement Fund assets in funds managed by FA Technology (the “Commitment”). Following the general counsel’s recommendation against the Commitment, it was not approved. By threatening to disclose the alleged extramarital affair, SEKHAR attempted to obtain, with the general counsel’s consent, the general counsel’s recommendation to approve the Commitment. The electronic mail messages traveled from and through Jersey City, New Jersey and Brookline, Massachusetts to Albany, New York.

The case was originated by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office with assistance from the Albany office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth C. Coombe of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.

CONTACT:

Assistant United States Attorney ELIZABETH C. COOMBE

518-431-0247