Annandale Teen Charged with Extortion

A 13-year-old Annandale teenager was charged with extortion, gang recruitment and gang participation by Fairfax County police yesterday, Thursday, Mar. 3 after he allegedly made threats against another teen and his family.

According to a press release, the teen made a series of threats of bodily harm and violence against a fellow student if the victim did not comply with his demands for cash.

Police officials first became aware of the incident after a dispute between a group of students in an Annandale area neighborhood after school one afternoon. The press release goes on to say the teen suspect reportedly told the victim he would be provided protection if he joined the suspect's gang and that if the victim did not pay the $500 membership to join, the victim's father would be killed.

Poe Middle School officials worked with Fairfax County police to investigate the allegations and also discovered the attempted recruitment of four students into an existing gang.

Gang unit detectives have determined that the student was acting alone and there were no direct ties to any organized gang.