Upstanding Citizens Extorted In Sex Videos - Panic Ensues

[DeSwiss]

Panicked professionals fear they were victims of 'swingers'

BY KARLA SCHUSTER AND ANN GIVENS
Newsday Staff Writers
February 2, 2007, 8:20 PM EST


Michael Largue and Shawn Payne

As the Long Island couple charged with running a sex and extortion scheme remained in jail Friday, at least one Nassau attorney said he is fielding calls from panicked professionals who fear they have been caught on sexually explicit videotapes. "Lawyers, doctors, school teachers, businessmen and other community leaders -- we've heard from people from all walks of professional life," said attorney Anthony Colleluori of Woodbury.

He said most of the people who have contacted him are married men from Nassau, Suffolk and Queens who say they had sexual encounters with one or both of the defendants. Two callers were women. Some called Colleluori directly, while others had friends call on their behalf. He has not yet agreed to represent anyone who has called him.

At least two callers told him that the couple -- Michael Largue, 45, of Franklin Square, and Shawn Payne, 34, of East Hampton -- threatened to send sexually explicit videos to a spouse or family member. He said some of men told him that their encounters involved both Largue and Payne in "swapping" situations.

Police say the couple trolled for partners on an Internet site that bills itself as "The World's Largest Sex and Swinger Personals Community." The couple secretly videotaped their partners in sex acts and then extorted them for money, police said. His online handle was "Mr. Nice," hers was "Gina."

Police are reviewing more than 100 hours of video that were confiscated from Largue's home, along with still photos and $20,000 in cash. Police say dozens of people across New York State were victimized by the couple.

The two were caught when a Garden City man whom they tried to extort came forward, police said. Another victim, a 47-year-old upstate woman, told them that Payne said she would hurt her father and show her son explicit photos of her trysts if she didn't pay $30,000, court documents said. The woman handed Payne $1,360 and several pieces of jewelry before police made their arrest, the documents said.

Payne is also charged with forcing the upstate woman to have intercourse and oral sex with a man who paid $150 at the Pines Motor Lodge in Westbury on Oct. 29, according to court documents. The motel, which features a mirrored jacuzzi room, specializes in "romantic getaways," according to its Web site.

Largue's and Payne's lawyers each sought to paint the other as the scheme's mastermind. "I think my client was coerced into some of this," said Payne's lawyer, Marc Gann of Carle Place. "She was victimized by this guy also."

But Largue's lawyer, Michaelangelo Matera of Melville, said his client isn't on any of the videos associated with the two victims who have come forward, nor was he present when those tapes were made. "So it will be interesting to hear how she was coerced into anything." he said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-liswin0203,0,2692917.story

*** - I know, I know but somebody's got to ask. Just what the hell was the attraction to these two in the first place? I hope the judge is in the clear. This could get interesting.

[hippiechick]

1. "Police are reviewing more than 100 hours of video "

... oh I don't doubt THAT ... :rofl:

[originalpckelly]

3. Oh come on, that's a hard job...

no, I actually mean it, just imagine those two...:puke:

[originalpckelly]

2. You know, I'd have to say I wouldn't touch either of these people with a ten foot pole...

let alone...:-)

[notadmblnd]

9. That's what I was thinking.... If it were those two...

I'd be more embarrassed to have people know who I was doing it with.. not that I was doing it

[originalpckelly]

10. ...

:spray:

[Clark2008]

4. I know extortion is illegal... but as a woman who'd first

husband cheated on her, I'm apt to say that the married and willing participants got what they deserved.

I don't give a frig if adults want to have all the sex they want - as long as noone gets hurt.

[Nay]

5. I turned to Mr. Nay and said, "Would you want to f**k either of

these people????" He said no--esp not the guy. (Mr. Nay, the comic.)

Wow. It still totally amazes me. People will do anything for sex. I just don't get it.

[twilight_sailing]

6. This is just a little Peyton Place and you're all Harper Valley hypocrites

[Joanne98]

7. O'Reilly was very concerned about this last night on his show.

Keep you fingers crossed :)

[SaveOurDemocracy]

8. Those 2 make celibacy look desirable.

:wtf:

[grytpype]

11. Yeah, I wouldn't care if I never got laid again if that was the alternative...

... eurgh.