Gage County Sheriff facebook page
We're Here For You!
(402) 223-5221
 

Threats/Extortion by Text Message

DATE & TIME: 10-06-2021 @ 4:59 pm

LOCATION: Beatrice, Nebraska          

OFFENSE: Threats/Extortion by Text Message

CASE #: 2021-4134

A resident of Beatrice came to the Gage County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, 10-06-2021 to speak with an investigator and report he had received several text messages from three different phone numbers, from a “Franco Chacon”, who was purportedly a head of a Mexican crime gang.  The texts stated they wanted him to pay $2,000.00 mulct or fine from the victim for contacting some girls via text message. The victim did not have any contact with this suspect or the girls and the Gage County Sheriff’s Office has received similar reports from other citizens recently.

The victim was aware this was a scam and responded to the suspects telling them he knew it was a scam and to come and “talk” to him about it. The suspect then responded to him with a name and address of a person in Wilber, Nebraska stating if he did not pay, he and a couple of family and friends will lose their life. Graphic photos of decapitated heads and bloody bodies were sent along with the text. (These images appear to have been downloaded off of the Internet)

Due to a real name and nearby city being mentioned, the victim felt it was prudent to report the incident to law enforcement. The Gage County Sheriff’s Office investigator notified the Saline County Sheriff’s Office of the incident and also had a copy of the report for this incident forwarded to the Beatrice Police Department, since the victim lived in Beatrice. The victim did not lose any money and did not feel threatened by the texts and the sheriff’s office investigator relayed that information to the Beatrice Police Department officer handling the case.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Sergeant T. Hanson #90310