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| Romanian Man Pleads Guilty to Extortion Charge Related to 2007 Connecticut Home Invasion |
Romanian Man Pleads Guilty to Extortion Charge Related to 2007 Connecticut Home Invasion
A 38-year-old Romanian citizen, Stefan Alexandru Barabas, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion, according to the US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. The charge is related to a 2007 home invasion in which Barabas and two other men injected a wealthy couple with a substance they claimed was a deadly virus and demanded millions of dollars from them.
Details of the Crime
On April 15, 2007, Barabas and two other men entered a home in South Kent, Connecticut, wearing masks and carrying knives and fake firearms. They blindfolded and bound the residents, millionaire philanthropist Anne Hendricks Bass and abstract artist Julian Lethbridge, and injected them with a substance they claimed was a deadly virus. The men demanded a payment of $8.5 million, threatening to kill the couple if they did not comply.
Investigation and Arrests
The investigation into the crime led to the arrest of Barabas in Hungary in 2022, after he had fled the United States. Three other men, including Emanuel Nicolescu, Michael N. Kennedy, and Alexandru Nicolescu, were also implicated in the crime. All four men have since been convicted and sentenced to varying prison terms.
Sentencing and Reaction
Barabas' sentencing is scheduled for September 11, and he faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison. The victim, Julian Lethbridge, has expressed gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement but believes that others involved in the planning and financing of the crime have yet to be brought to justice.
This incident highlights the seriousness of extortion and home invasion crimes, and the importance of thorough investigations and international cooperation in bringing perpetrators