Calabasas Man Arrested for Extortion

The Riverside Sheriff’s office says it arrested Calabasas resident Majeed Najafi, 31, and Jose Casanova Jr. for extortion, terrorist threats and burglary.

Investigators say that on February 9, they received information regarding an ongoing extortion that was occurring. Several separate acts had occurred, but not described by authorities, with a further demand for money being made of the victim in Corona, California.

The next days, investigators from the Jurupa Valley Station and members of the Riverside Sheriff’s Fugitive Warrant Enforcement Team conducted what they called a “controlled delivery” of the extortion money at the victim’s business.

The money was paid and two suspects were arrested without incident.

They are charged with 518 PC, Extortion, (7 counts), 422 PC, Terrorist Threats, (1 count), and 459 PC, Burglary, (1 count).

Both suspects are being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center with bail around $250,000.