JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – A Jacksonville man is headed to prison after a jury convicted him of extorting a local Marine.
Eburt Fish was found guilty of extortion and obtaining property by false pretense Monday in an Onslow County courtroom and sentenced to up to two and half years.
The October 2015 incident involved a Marine responding to a Craigslist ad arranging for a sexual meeting at an empty home.
The following day, Fish texted the victim claiming he had sex with an underage girl and demanded $9,400 to keep quiet.
“We’ve had a lot of these through the years, different types of scams, preying upon young Marines, young victims, and just trying to take advantage of people,” explained Ernie Lee, Onslow County District Attorney.
Lee said he hopes the outcome will encourage others to come forward and prevent similar scams from taking place.
