Opinion ID: 2329868
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Extortion Attempt[11]

Text: Following the unsuccessful kidnap attempt upon Carlos Vitorina, Battle and his group made several attempts to communicate with the Vitorino family. One of Battle's comrades, Pillot, visited the home of Carlos' parents and informed Carlos' father that Carlos owed a $20,000 debt for an amount of cocaine. Pillot returned to the Vitorino home later that same day where he gave a note [12] to Carlos' brother and informed the Vitorino family that the persons seeking to collect were serious and that if Carlos did not cooperate they were going to do the same thing to Carlos that they did to Kelly. Pillot also told the Vitorino's that the family would suffer unless they came up with the money in forty-eight hours. The Vitorino's received several telephone calls over the next few days from Pillot reiterating his threats and emphasizing the urgent need for payment. During one of the conversations, a detective, posing as Carlos Vitorino's brother, set up a meeting with Pillot for payment of the money and for a drug transaction. Battle, Diaz, Pillot and others were arrested at or near the site of the meeting.