March 13, 2007

Grand Jury Indicts “Swinger” Couple

Additional victims identified, couple now facing up to 20 years in prison

MINEOLA - A couple who allegedly extorted people they met on adult Web sites have been indicted by a Nassau County grand jury, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today. The indictment makes reference to additional victims of the scheme and adds significantly to the charges the couple is facing. The District Attorney’s investigation is continuing and she is urging the public to come forward if they feel they have been victims of the pair.

Appearing in front of Nassau County Court Judge George R. Peck, Michael Largue, 45, was arraigned on charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, as well as Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree. Shawn Payne, 34, is scheduled to be arraigned on identical charges Thursday morning. The both face a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Mr. Largue and Ms. Payne were arrested in late January in connection with extortion allegations by two victims. Authorities moved quickly to seize evidence from the defendants’ computers, which outlined their scheme and identified additional victims and numerous on-line relationships using the Web sites Adultfriendfinder.com., AmericanSingles.com, bbwdating.com, and ALT.com.

After their arrests, an additional victim contacted the Nassau County Police Department’s Third Squad and the District Attorney’s Office identified and contacted two additional victims using information obtained from the defendants’ computers.

The charges allege that the defendants, in an attempt to identify potential extortion targets, trolled adult Web sites and exchanged pictures with users, in addition to posting their profiles. The names used by the defendants include “Nice Manners”, “Master Wonderful” and “Incontrol 626.”

After several Internet chats and subsequent telephone calls with female victims, Michael Largue would tell women that they were “the one” he had been searching for, and that he was interested in marrying the victim. Mr. Largue would then offer to help married women get divorced with the help of a “financial advisor” he would hire for them. That financial advisor was his co-defendant, Shawn Payne. While Mr. Largue continued to develop the vulnerability of these women, the charges allege Ms. Payne worked on their finances and acted as a go-between for Mr. Largue. Several victims were asked to give or actually gave the defendants their banking and financial information. At least one emptied her bank accounts. Others were urged to sell or mortgage their homes and move in with Mr. Largue, who would offer to manage their assets. One female victim lost $50,000. Mr. Largue often presented himself as an investment banker or wealthy entrepreneur who was constantly at important meetings and conducting major business deals from “his office”. His office was nothing more than a “virtual office” in Garden City where he rented space on an hourly basis.

After several Internet chats and subsequent telephone calls to one male victim, Shawn Payne and Mr. Largue arranged for Ms. Payne to meet the victim for videotaped sexual encounters. The videotaping was done without his knowledge. Soon after, Ms. Payne threatened the victim with the release of the photos and videotapes to his spouse, unless he paid $50,000.

After reviewing evidence seized from the defendants, the District Attorney’s Office contacted more than 30 potential victims whose names or screen names were found on the defendants’ computers. The investigation is continuing into their contact with the defendants.

The case is being handled by Bureau Chief Diane Peress, Deputy Bureau Chief Marshall D. Trager, and Cyber Crime Unit Chief Stephen Treglia, all of the District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Bureau. Mr. Largue is being represented by Michelangelo Matera, Esq., of Melville. Ms. Payne is being represented by Marc Gann, Esq., of Garden City.

Any individual who has had a similar experience with either defendant and who has not yet been in contact with the District Attorney’s Office is urged to call the District Attorney at (516) 571-2106 between the hours of 9:30AM and 4:30PM or (516) 573-7051 from 4:30AM - 11:00PM. All calls will be kept confidential.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.