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Morgantown men accused of armed robbery and extortion

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Monongalia County man and his mother are victims of a violent extortion scheme according to investigators with the sheriff’s department.

Lonnie Smith, 41, and Caleb Dauphine, 19, have been charged with armed robbery and extortion.

Investigators say the men secured the male victim to a chair in a Marjorie Gardens apartment Monday night and proceeded to torture him at gun point.

The victim told police he was burned, hit and subjected to water boarding in an attempt to recover a debt.

Tuesday morning, the suspects took the victim to his family’s home in Cheat Lake where they allegedly threatened to further harm the man if his mother didn’t pay off the debt.

In an attempt to get money from her account, the woman told a bank worker she needed it to ensure her son’s safety.

The bank denied the request and notified police. Meanwhile, the woman signed her car title over to the suspects in exchange for the payment sought by Smith and Dauphine.

Both men were arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court. Their bonds were set at $250,000 each.

Morgantown City Police and the Mon Metro Drug Task Force assisted in the investigation.

 

Deputies ask anyone with information to call 304-291-7218. Callers can remain anonymous.





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