Mother of Inmate Charged With Intimidation: Prosecutor

COOK COUNTY, IL -- A mother was charged with intimidation after she and her jailed son tried to extort money from another man, prosecutors said.

According to the charges, the son, Guy Dukes, 28, who is currently serving a six-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, wrote a letter to his mother, Carmelita Pritchett, 47, to find the alleged victim.

The afternoon of Feb. 12, Dukes allegedly told Pritchett to “hit” the man for $3,000 in exchange for information about a future kidnapping and robbery, the prosecutor said. Later that day, the man received a conference call from Pritchett and Dukes demanding $5,000 for the information.

The prosecutor said the man received another conference call from Pritchett and her son requesting the same information. This time, the man recorded the call with his cell phone.

A few days later, Pritchett allegedly confronted the man the furniture store demanding information and money. The prosecutor said the man’s brother took photographs of the meeting. He reported the intimidation to Palos Heights police.

Pritchett was placed under arrest by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The incident reportedly unfolded in the unincorporated Palos Heights area.

The prosecutor said it was not clear if the information being sought about the robbery and kidnapping was for the man who was being targeted, but it was for someone who lived at his address.

Pritchett’s attorney told the judge that his client had no prior felonies. She worked as a home health care worker and in food service.

Her son, Dukes, is serving a six-year sentence for being a “habitual criminal,” according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

She was released on a $10,000 I-bond. She is due back in court March 22 in Bridgeview.