Opinion ID: 357120
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Conduct of the Defendants

Text: 10 The defendants were convicted under § 894 of attempting to collect a claim by threats of violence. The record discloses no substantial evidence of loansharking or organized criminal activity. 11 Defendant, Cheiman, a pharmacist, was a part owner of three drug stores in the metropolitan Detroit area, including the Medi-Mart store in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. In September, 1974, Cheiman hired Art Sklar, a pharmacist who had managed other drug stores, to run the Medi-Mart store. It was understood that if both parties were agreeable Sklar might later buy a quarter interest in the store for $15,000 to $18,000. In October, Cheiman threatened to fire Sklar if Sklar refused to invest in the operation. Sklar, whose paychecks had bounced twice, decided not to invest in the financially troubled pharmacy but did not tell Cheiman. 12 Approximately two weeks after Cheiman's threat, Sklar was working at Medi-Mart when a female employee told him that a toilet was overflowing in a back room. Sklar hurried to the room only to find himself trapped there by Cheiman and two other men, defendant Sardelis and Weiczorek (an unindicted co-conspirator). Holding a paper bag of drugs, Cheiman accused Sklar of attempting to steal the drugs from the pharmacy. When Sklar denied the charges, Sardelis, a recent law school graduate who had formerly been a bill collector, grabbed Sklar around the neck and pushed him, then began to tap him on the shoulder with a baseball bat. When Sklar again refused to admit any theft, Sardelis pulled out a revolver, pointed it at Sklar's chest and showed him a bullet. Sardelis said it was a soft lead bullet which goes in very small but comes out real big. Frightened, Sklar then signed a typed confession produced by Cheiman, stating that Sklar had stolen a total of $7,000 worth of drugs from Medi-Mart (a bag each day since Sklar had started working there) and that he would make full restitution of the amount. The men also forced Sklar to write a check for $7,000 to Medi-Mart; and Sardelis took $20 to $30, an American Express Card, and a driver's license from Sklar's wallet. Finally, Cheiman told Sklar that if he did not pay the $7,000 within a week that Sklar would be hearing from Sardelis. Sardelis also threatened that if Sklar refused to pay or went to the police that Sardelis might harm Sklar's family and would prevent him from keeping any job with another pharmacy. 13 Sklar, who immediately contacted an attorney, the F.B.I., and the Detroit Police Department, later telephoned Cheiman several times trying to learn the identity of Sardelis whom the others had referred to only as Nicky. Cheiman refused to say, telling Sklar, I don't want nothing further to do with him. I had to get off the hook and I'm off the hook. You're on it. On November 12, Sardelis called Sklar's home and told Sklar's son that his father's time was about up. On November 14, Sardelis called again, telling Sklar's wife, You can just tell Art he had better make good on his debts real quick. 14 Cheiman and Sardelis were each convicted of one count of violating § 894 for threatening Sklar in the back room of the pharmacy. Sardelis was also convicted in a separate count for his threatening telephone call to Sklar's wife on November 14. 15