Extortionists Threaten To Chop Off Teen's Ear, Demand $10K: Feds

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Two men threatened to make a teenager eat his family member's ear if he didn't hand over $10,000 and shut down his competing awning cleaning business, according to Brooklyn prosecutors.

Ruslan Reizin, 50, and Mark Krivoi, 54, were arrested on extortion charges for beating, threatening and demanded thousands of dollars from a former employee who opened his own awning cleaning business in Brooklyn, according to federal prosecutors.

“As alleged, the defendants sought to eliminate a business competitor by beating and intimidating him,” said Acting United States Attorney Bridget M. Rohde in a statement. “This is no way to ensure a competitive edge.”

Reizin and Krivoi cornered their victim in a secluded spot in Sheapshead Bay in May, then Reizen grabbed the teen by the throat, pulled out a knife and tried to make him choose between losing an ear or having his throat slit, said prosecutors.

When Krivoi suggested murder, Reizen told the teen his life could be spared by making a $10,000 payment to Reizen’s motorcycle club and shutting down his business, said prosecutors.

Krivoi beat the teenager when he said he couldn’t afford to pay them, then Reizen offered a “discount” of monthly payments of $5,000, said prosecutors.

Reizin warned the teen that if he failed to pay, the two men would consider cutting off a family member’s ear and forcing the teen to “chew and swallow it,” said prosecutors.

The teenager made several monthly payments and recorded his conversations with Reizen and Krivoi, prosecutors said.

Police nabbed Reizin Tuesday and Krivoi Wednesday morning, prosecutors said. The two men are expected to be arraigned in Brooklyn federal court on charges of extortion and violent assault Wednesday afternoon.

Contact information for Reizin's and Krivoi's attorneys was not immediately available.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock