(Reuters) – Stevie Wonder’s nephew has been arrested
and charged with an extortion scheme against the singer, Los Angeles prosecutors said on
Friday.
plays the harmonica as he performs the song Alfie during a concert in the East Room of the White House,
May 9, 2012. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Alpha Lorenzo
Walker, 38, was arrested on May 2, along with another alleged conspirator, Tamara Eileen Diaz. The pair
had threatened to reveal information they claimed would be embarrassing to the “Superstition” singer
unless he met their demands, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said.
Celebrity website
TMZ.com, citing law enforcement sources, said the pair demanded $5 million from Wonder and threatened
to go to the media with a tale of incest. They later lowered the sum to $10,000 and were arrested by
undercover police posing as representatives of the musician.
The District Attorney’s
spokeswoman declined to comment on the nature or details of the alleged extortion plot.
Walker
and Diaz have pleaded not guilty to extortion but are being held in jail awaiting a preliminary hearing
next week that will determine whether there is enough evidence for a full trial.
(Reporting By
Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)