I-Team: Former Boston Firefighter Charged In Alleged Extortion Plot

BOSTON (CBS) -- An alleged extortion plot uncovered by the I-Team has led to criminal charges against a Boston firefighter.

It was 2011 when an Andover man says a highway mishap turned into a nightmare on the lower deck of 93. Carey Poe was on his way to work when the gas tank fell out from under his truck, spilling gasoline all over the highway.

Soon after he called 911 for help, his phone rang. It was Boston Fire Department Hazmat Specialist Fred Ellis.

According to Poe, Ellis demanded he take a call from Shawn Clark, the owner of Removal Specialists, a hazardous material cleanup company. When Poe took that call, Clark demanded his credit card number to charge a $3,500 retainer to clean up the mess.

"If I didn't do it, they were going to arrest me," Poe said.

Intimidated, Poe gave in and before all was said and done, he was on the hook for $11,000.

When the I-Team caught up with Ellis, he denied any wrongdoing. But Poe was convinced the firefighter was getting paid in some kind of kickback scheme, and took his story to Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley.

"If Mr. Poe's allegations are correct, I view this as a very serious case of public corruption," Conley said.

Now, nearly four years later, the D.A. has determined that's exactly what happened.

Court documents obtained by the I-Team show Ellis is scheduled to be arraigned on August 14, on a felony public corruption charge. Essentially, the documents say he misused his position of power to get money.

Nobody answered the door at Ellis' home when the I-Team tried to get his reaction to the charges. The former firefighter is retired and now works as a constable for the city of Boston.

Carey Poe can't wait to see Ellis in court.

"I expect the people in public offices to be more responsible, to help out people on thoroughfares and on the roadways, and that's not what happened," said Poe. "They were the ones extorting me."

Ellis was disciplined by Boston Fire for the incident.

According to the District Attorney's office, despite an exhaustive investigation, they were not able to charge the business owner.

Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.