Extortion charges dismissed for Naval officer

Officer Had Been Accused Of Trying To Extort Family

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal prosecutors have dismissed charges against a Naval officer accused in a plot to extort money from his family in Granite Falls.

The Star Tribune reports ( http://bit.ly/mBl812) officials aren’t saying why they dropped charges against Lt. Cmdr. David Rosetter, of Hawaii. The 18-year Navy veteran had faced counts of aiding and abetting extortion.

Rosetter’s attorney, Douglas Olson, says his client is innocent. He says Rosetter was in Iraq, and e-mails were made to look like he sent them.

His Samoan-born wife has a plea hearing next week. His sister-in-law pleaded guilty last week for her role in the scheme.

Court documents say the women extorted more than $180,000 from Rosetter’s family, by saying the Samoan mafia would kill family members if they didn’t pay David’s debts. The story was made up.

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com