Former LA County Deputies and Military Veterans Face Decades in Prison for Alleged Extortion

Four individuals, including two former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies and former members of the British and Australian militaries, are now facing the possibility of spending decades behind bars after they allegedly extorted a man in Irvine for tens of millions of dollars. The incident, which occurred in 2019, involved the defendants posing as a fake law enforcement team and using threats of violence and deportation against the victim and his family, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The accused individuals were reportedly hired by an unnamed co-conspirator to coerce the victim into relinquishing approximately $37 million in cash and shares of a Chinese business that they co-owned. These shares were estimated to be worth "tens of millions of dollars" in addition to the cash. The Department of Justice described the operation as a "sham raid" that exploited the authority of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Prosecutors revealed that the Australian-turned-British defendant, whose name is Turbett, served as the initial point of contact for the co-conspirator. Turbett then recruited Cozart to locate the victim, and Cozart, in violation of department policy, paid Lankford to conduct a search through the LASD database for information on the victim. Lankford, further violating department rules, drove an unmarked LASD vehicle to the fabricated raid on June 17, 2019, accompanied by Cozart, Turbett, and Hart, who had traveled from Australia.

The release from the Department of Justice states that Lankford and Cozart approached the victim outside his residence, with Lankford falsely identifying himself as a police officer and displaying his badge, while Cozart posed as an immigration officer. Once inside the victim's home, the family was held against their will for hours, enduring physical assault and threats of deportation. The defendants went as far as to threaten to permanently separate the victim and his wife from their 4-year-old son unless their demands were met. Ultimately, the victim was coerced into signing documents surrendering the cash and shares, with Turbett's company being paid nearly $420,000 for their involvement.

Despite the victim's immediate report to the Irvine Police Department, Lankford falsely claimed to an officer that the presence at the man's home was for a legitimate law enforcement purpose and that no force had been used. However, the victim's quick action led to the eventual arrest of the defendants, though it took more than five years for charges to be filed.

Lankford, who had previously been honored by the LASD for his work on a cold-case murder, now faces charges of conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, conspiracy against rights, and deprivation of rights under the law, alongside the three other defendants. The arraignment for all four individuals is set to take place on Monday in downtown Los Angeles.

If convicted, the defendants could potentially be sentenced to a maximum of 60 years in federal prison, including 20 years for each extortion count and 10 years for each civil rights count. The severity of the charges reflects the gravity of the allegations leveled against these former law enforcement officers and military veterans.

This case raises concerns about abuse of power within law enforcement agencies and underscores the importance of holding accountable those who engage in illegal activities under the guise of authority.