Northpinellas: Attorney target of extortion scheme

North Pinellas

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Attorney target of extortion scheme

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published April 12, 2007

CLEARWATER - Police have arrested an Oldsmar man who they say tried to extort $100,000 from a prominent Clearwater attorney.

Officials Wednesday released few details, saying their investigation was ongoing.

Tom Carey, 56, a personal injury lawyer and former state chairman of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, contacted authorities several weeks ago about an extortion plot, police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.

On Monday evening, police eavesdropped as Keith Edmund Pinke, 53, came to Carey's office to extort the money, Shelor said. Officers arrested Pinke on an extortion charge. He was released on $20,000 bail.

Police said Pinke was acting on someone else's behalf. Efforts to reach him Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Carey said officials had told him not to discuss the case in detail. He would not reveal the nature of the extortion plot or on whose behalf he believed Pinke was acting.

"The other perpetrator has not been arrested yet so I can't really get into it," he said. "Let me just say the following: The authorities have it under control and the Clearwater police have done a wonderful job. ... I'm sure the justice system will work this properly."

Over the years, Carey has made headlines for fighting for more stringent enforcement against drunken drivers after a repeat offender killed his 27-year-old wife in 1983.