Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian has filed a lawsuit alleging he is the victim of an extortion attempt. His suit names a man and woman as the defendants, saying the couple found his BlackBerry and were demanding $30,000 to return it. The couple allegedly was threatening to sell the phone to a media outlet.
According to the suit filed by Berrian, his phone contains access codes to his residences, pictures of his daughter and “other personal photographs and video of Berrian and third parties not intended for public distribution.”
Most people who encounter a lost item would try to return it to the owner. Unfortunately the couple involved had money on their mind.
LBS has learned through the court documents filed in the case that Berrian hired a private investigator to track down the couple attempting the extortion. Investigators identified one of the defendants in the case as Ron Jones, a former Southern Miss defensive lineman who was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. Jones has been playing in the Arena Football League since 2007 and is currently a member of the Arizona Rattlers.
Given the nature of the extortion attempt, it’s no surprise that Jones has been involved in two crimes recently. He was charged with DUI in February of 2009 and he had a vehicle violation charge in March 2008.
Here I was thinking athletes are supposed to be looking out for each other, and now we’re seeing one is trying to extort another. As LeBron knows best, Karma is a *****. Hopefully Jones gets what he has coming towards him.
