A powerful Chinese national who is accused of hiring four men with ties to law enforcement or the military to obtain millions of dollars in assets from a person in an ongoing legal dispute over equity interests in a , China-based rubber chemical company is not already facing federal charges because she would have to show that she endorsed or conspired with the men to use force or fear to accomplish her goal, according to authorities.
The Chinese nationwide, who was not named in a federal indictment against the four men, two who were , Los Angeles County , delegates at one place, hired one of the people and asked him to help her get the property because an ongoing long, expensive battle in the courts was n’t working to her happiness,  , U. S. Attorney’s Office , spokesman , Ciaran McEvoy , said.
She also allegedly said in an email if he were to help get the assets,” We could both retire”, according to the indictment. The man then hired the three others, authorities said.
The investigation was ongoing, McEvoy said.
The men pleaded not guilty on , Monday, Aug. 12, in federal court:  , Steven Arthur Lankford, 68, of , Canyon Country,  , Glen Louis Cozart, 63, of , Upland,  , Max Samuel Bennett Turbett, 39, of , Australia, and , Matthew Phillip Hart, 41, of , Australia.
They face four federal charges, including attempted extortion, for allegedly raiding the victim’s home on , June 17, 2019, which culminated with the victim signing a settlement agreement to give up his shares in the company, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, authorities said.
According to federal authorities, the men were also seeking nearly$ 37 million in cash, but the agreement the victim signed was only for his shares.
Lankford retired from the , Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department , in 2017, but he was working as a reserve deputy at the time of the alleged raid, while Cozart retired from the department in 1994, last serving at the , Temple Station, the department said in a statement. Lankford left the department in 2020, with his last assignment in the , Homicide Bureau.
According to a statement from LASD,” These allegations do not reflect the values of the dedicated men and women of our department,” adding that it was working with federal authorities to “ensure a comprehensive investigation and accountability for any misconduct.” Criminal conduct will not be tolerated, and those who break the law will be held accountable.
Federal authorities allege that the four men had planned their activities at a hotel in the days leading up to the raid. On the day of the raid, Lankford drove the men to , Irvine , in an unmarked LASD vehicle and displayed his badge to the victim, told him he was a police officer and falsely identified Cozart as an “immigration” officer, authorities said.
According to the indictment, one man choked the victim by smashing him against a wall. Fearing for his safety and that of his family, he signed the documents.
The longstanding dispute between the two had led to at least three lawsuits in , China , and one in , Georgia, McEvoy said.
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( c ) 2024 Daily Breeze
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