(Princess Anne, Md) - A Princess Anne town Commissioner has been arrested and charged in connection with an extortion scheme to keep someone from running for county commissioner.
Lionel D. Frederick 2nd, 25, of Princess Anne, was charged with three counts of extortion and theft.
According to the Maryland State Police on Thursday May 5, 2016, criminal investigators began an investigation into allegations of extortion involving the accused, who is currently a Princess Anne Town Commissioner. The investigation was initiated after an allegation that Frederick had contacted a Somerset County Commissioner and advised he had someone who would run for the commissioner's seat, but if the commissioner paid him $5,000, he would convince the person not to run.
Monday May 9, 2016, Frederick made contact with the County Commissioner and arranged to meet and receive half of the $5,000. State Police investigators conducted a surveillance of the meeting, which occurred at Frederick's home. The County Commissioner gave Frederick $2,500. Shortly after the transaction, Frederick was arrested by state troopers.
The investigation is continuing.