NEWS RELEASE

HUNTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

815 Wheeler Ave.

Huntsville, Alabama  35801

Police Impersonators Extort Money

Huntsville, Alabama (January 21, 2010) On Tuesday, January 19^th, 2010, the Huntsville Police Department was contacted by a subject, that stated two weeks ago he had been approached by two subjects who were wearing masks outside of his apartment.  He said that the two identified themselves as Federal drug agents, and directed him back into his apartment where he was tied up.  The two men searched his apartment and took numerous items.  They took his cell phone number and told him that they would be in contact with him soon.  The next day, he was contacted by one of the men who told him that if he did not pay them $2500, they would plant drugs on him and arrest him.  The victim met the subjects and paid them the money that they had requested.  On January 19, 2010, the men again contacted the victim and demanded $1500.  It was this second attempt to extort the victim which prompted him to contact the police.  The Madison-Morgan County Strategic Counterdrug Team was notified and an investigation was conducted.  On January 20, 2010, Agents with the Madison-Morgan STAC Team apprehended the following individuals when he attempted to pick up the money from the victim:

Anthony Gene Tippett, age 49, resides in Decatur, Alabama, charged with:
Robbery 2^nd
Two counts of Extortion

Kidnapping
Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime
Conspiracy to Commit Robbery

Two counts of Impersonating a Police Officer

Michael Alan Robison, age 20, resides in Huntsville, Alabama, charged with:

Conspiracy to Commit Robbery

Conspiracy to Commit Extortion

Two counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Tippett	Robison