WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — A 31-year-old man was sentenced to more than five years in prison for extorting $1 million from a former Bethany College employee, U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II said Monday.
Jason Kirkland Weese, 31, of East Liverpool, Ohio, plead guilty in June 2014 to one count of extortion conspiracy and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering,” according to officials.
Officials said revealed that Weese exchanged sexually explicit text messages and photographs with a female employee of Bethany College who was embezzling money from the school. Weese then threatened to disclose the female employee’s theft and the illicit relationship.
He used the messages and photographs along with threats of physical force to coerce the female employee into giving him large amounts of the stolen money. Weese and his wife used the embezzled funds to make a variety of luxury purchases, including a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro, officials said.
Weese was sentenced to five years and three months and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1 million, officials said.
He will also forfeit nearly $700,000; a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro along with certain aftermarket accessories; a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander; a 2013 Honda TRX90X all-terrain vehicle; and a Toro Timecutter MX4260 lawnmower, authorities said.