New York Man Sentenced in Connecticut Extortion Case

Ernest Syku, 45, of the Bronx, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison following his conviction in a Connecticut extortion case, United States Attorney Deirdre M. Daly announced Friday. After his jail term, he will have three years of supervised release.

According to Daly and court documents, Syku and Yonkers resident Robert Francella “threatened a Connecticut resident with violence in order to induce the victim to pay an alleged $240,000 debt.” Syku claimed that the debt was owed to his deceased uncle, “even though the victim stated the debt had been repaid.”

On one occasion, Daly said, Syku told the victim that he was “the one who can break you in many pieces,” and another time Syku told the victim that they were “doomed” if they did not bring him the money.

Other threats made by Syku included telling the victim that he “crushes everybody’s head who gets in my way.” Syku also provided his cellular telephone to Francella, who threatened “to cut the head” off the victim.

“Syku had promised Francella a portion of any monies collected in order to induce Francella’s participation in the extortion scheme,” according to Daly.

At the sentencing, the victim stated that he and his spouse were fearful for their family’s safety, particularly because Syku made references to the location of their home, according to Daly.

Syku and Francella were arrested on March 13, 2014. After he was arrested, Syku confessed to law enforcement that he had hired and directed Francella to scare the victim into paying the alleged debt.

On April 27, 2015, Syku pleaded guilty to one count of attempted collection of extension of credit by extortionate means.

Francella pleaded guilty on November 17, 2014. On June 1, 2015, he was sentenced to approximately 15 months of imprisonment, time already served, and one year of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the FBI Fairfield County Organized Crime Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Chen and Heather Cherry.