Anne Bass Home Invasion: Suspect arraigned in attempted $8.5M extortion of socialite

(CBS/AP) HARTFORD, Conn. - Emanuel Nicolescu pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday for attempted extortion and possession of a stolen vehicle, in the 2007 home invasion at the Connecticut estate of socialite Anne H. Bass.  

Nicolescu was indicted by a federal grand jury for the break-in at the Kent, Conn. property and attempting to extort $8.5 million.

Bass and her guest were treated at a hospital following the break-in and were released. The substance the attackers said was a deadly virus turned out to be harmless, likely an ink, authorities said.

The attackers fled in a vehicle, and only Nicolescu, 32, was captured, officials said.

Bass' estate spans more than 1,000 acres in Kent, where she kept a herd of rare Randall cattle. Bass, a former wife of Texas billionaire Sid Bass, also has homes in New York and Fort Worth, Texas.

Nicolescu has been in custody since his Jan. 23 arrest in Chicago that followed a four-year investigation involving Connecticut state police, the FBI and the New York Police Department.