Ring's finder keeper? Not when loser calls the cops
A man finds an Arizona woman's lost ring on a Florida beach. Police say his mistake was trying to make her buy it back.
By Associated Press
Published December 9, 2003
PORT ST. LUCIE - A man accused of trying to extort money from an Arizona woman who lost her wedding ring on a St. Lucie County beach was arrested on federal charges.
Gary R. Sampson, 53, was arrested Saturday and charged with felony extortion and grand theft for allegedly trying to sell Wendy Przybyszewski's ring back to her.
Przybyszewski told police she lost her $3,700 ring at the Island Beach Resort on Nov. 26.
She asked the hotel to call her if anyone turned it in, and returned to Arizona.
On Thursday the hotel manager called Przybyszewski to tell her a man had found the ring.
After the manager passed on her phone number, Sampson called Przybyszewski and demanded between $2,000 and $3,000 for returning the ring, she said.
She reported the call to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.
Sampson allegedly called Przybyszewski's home again, this time talking to her husband.
He lowered the price to $1,800 and said he would sell it if they didn't pay him, they reported.
Pretending to be a relative of Przybyszewski, an officer arranged to meet Sampson at a local supermarket and pay the $1,800.
After Sampson handed over the ring, the officer arrested him.
