Man Arrested on Federal Extortion Charge in Relation to Threatening Loan Shark Victim

NEW MILFORD, CT — A 45-year-old New Milford man has pleaded guilty on a federal extortion charge after authorities said he threatened victims who failed to repay their debts to a loan shark, according to Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut,

Court documents and statements made in court reveal that in late December 2015 through early January 2016, a loan shark lent an individual approximately $1,500 who was required to pay the loan shark the $1,500, plus an additional $500 in interest within four days of the initial loan. When the individual failed to pay the loan within four days, Howard Hammer agreed to help the loan shark collect on the loan by sending threatening text messages to the victim, according to Daly.

Authories said that the loan shark and Hammer discussed taking the victim’s car either as payment for the debt or as punishment for failure to pay the debt. Daly said that on January 25, 2016, the victim suffered permanent bodily injury in connection with this conduct.

Hammer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in the collection and attempted collection of an extension of credit by extortionate means, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Hammer has been detained since his arrest on May 27, 2016 and is scheduled for sentencing for February 24, 2017.

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