Princess Anne Official Charged In Extortion Plot

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (WJZ) -- A Princess Anne town commissioner was arrested Monday after authorities say he concocted a plan to extort a sitting Somerset County commissioner.

Lionel Demese Frederick, 25, of Beechwood Street, faces three counts of extortion and theft in connection to the scheme, according to online court records.

He's accused of reaching out to the county commissioner with knowledge of a challenger running for the commissioner's seat and promising to convince that challenger to drop out of the race -- for $5,000.

Frederick came under investigation after police received a tip about the scheme last week. On Monday, Frederick contacted the county commissioner and made arrangements to collect part of his fee, according to Maryland State Police.

State troopers were staked out when the two met at Frederick's Princess Anne home and they took Frederick into custody after the victim handed over $2,500.

Frederick made headlines previously in September of 2014 when he was accused of spraying another man with mace and hitting him with his van. Court records show two counts of misdemeanor second-degree assault related to that case were later abandoned.

Frederick's term on the town commission expires in 2018.