For almost two years, a pair of Mission seniors feared for their lives. 

With threats of gang violence against their family, 69-year-old Judy Lehmann and her 79-year-old husband Bernie paid roughly $300,000 to avoid the potential repercussions. 

But after bringing the problem to Mission RCMP, the couple discovered they were conned by a family friend. 

B次元官网网址淚t was awful. Just awful,B次元官网网址� Judy said.

Tyler James Willard pleaded guilty to criminal extortion charges in connection to the scam and was sentenced to nine months of house arrest in December.  The house arrest is followed by approximately 15 months of probation and $260,000 in restitution to the victims.

Willard was a childhood friend of one of LehmannB次元官网网址檚 close family members, who requested anonymity. 

B次元官网网址淚 loved him. He was [like] a nephew. We took him on holidays with us,B次元官网网址� Judy said. 

The Lehmanns own a business in Silverdale, which they suspect made them a target for Willard. 

B次元官网网址淗e wanted to live the lifestyle,B次元官网网址� Bernie said. 

The long-running extortion began In late 2019 when Willard targeted his childhood friend.

The Lehmann family member was told he was one of the final phone calls for an Abbotsford man who died of an overdose supposedly owing $60,000 to a gang. 

Willard, who feigned gang connections, told his friend that recent contacts on the overdose victimB次元官网网址檚 phone were culpable for the debt. 

B次元官网网址淚t was very, very believable. And the mindset to come up with a story like he did ... it was just awful,B次元官网网址� Judy said. 

She went on to say: B次元官网网址淲hatever money [our family member] had, he gave to Tyler. And then Tyler [would say] the gang now needs X number of dollars. We got home from a holiday and [the family member] said if we do not pay, our lives were going to be in jeopardy,B次元官网网址� Judy said. 

She said this was just the beginning.

In addition to Willard, Judy saysB次元官网网址婤次元官网网址� an extra man posing as a gang member threatened over the phone that B次元官网网址渟omething direB次元官网网址� would happen if they didnB次元官网网址檛 pay. Calls from Willard requesting money became a frequent occurrence for the Lehmanns. 

B次元官网网址淲e would get a phone call on a Friday [saying] B次元官网网址業 need $10,000 by SundayB次元官网网址�. And I  would go into our bank account, take the money and it just went on and on and on,B次元官网网址� Judy said. 

For the first year, Judy avoided telling her husband to protect him. 

B次元官网网址淚t almost broke our marriage,B次元官网网址� she said.

The looming threat of violence terrified the Lehmanns.  They locked the doors, covered windows with black curtains, and Bernie kept a bedside bat. 

B次元官网网址淲e were living under curfew, basically. I have never been as scared in my life,B次元官网网址� Judy said. 

A request from Willard for $30,000 with a quick turnaround was enough for Judy to go to the police. 

Previous threats implied the B次元官网网址済angB次元官网网址� had connections in the RCMP. However, Judy contacted a friend whose daughter is a Mountie. She told the Lehmanns she B次元官网网址渨ould bet her lifeB次元官网网址� it was safe to take the problem to Mission RCMP. 

The local detachment told the Lehmanns the gang in question wouldnB次元官网网址檛 go after seniors unless they were owed money. 

B次元官网网址淚t didnB次元官网网址檛 stop until we finally went to the police. And then we find out that ultimately it was just a con job. And it was a good con job because it scared the shit out of both of us,B次元官网网址� Bernie said. 

The Lehmanns donB次元官网网址檛 expect to receive the court-ordered $260,000 in restitution from Willard.  

B次元官网网址淗ow do you go after them? You have to continuously chase them for a few bucks here and there? It becomes more grief after a while than itB次元官网网址檚 worth,B次元官网网址� Bernie said. 

Since the money was taken from their business to pay Willard, the Lehmanns also had to declare it as income. In addition to the approximate $300,000 lost in the extortion, the Lehmanns are facing a $94,000 bill from the CRA and a reduction to their old-age pension. 

They are planning to appeal the charge with the CRA. 

However, with Willard sentenced, Judy said she is ready to move on.

She and Bernie praised Mission RCMP, victim services, and Crown counsel Jim Barbour for their handling of the case while advising others who have been extorted or scammed to contact police. 

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 be scared. Go and see your local police B次元官网网址� they're the people who are there to help you,B次元官网网址� Judy said.