Trending
HARRISBURG -- A Lebanon man was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo following his conviction for extortion by interstate communication.
According to the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, John Anthony Zayas, 35, pleaded guilty to this offense, which involved Zayas's efforts in the fall of 2022 to coerce a victim to pay $150,000 under the threat that Zayas would publicize intimate photos and images of the victim if they did not comply.
In a sentencing memorandum, Zayas asked Judge Rambo to sentence him to house arrest in lieu of prison, but Rambo rejected that request and ordered that Zayas report to prison in June 2024 to begin serving his sentence.
Rambo also ordered Zayas to pay $850 in fines and assessments and to serve one year of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby.