A Gainesville man is facing extortion charges stemming from an investigation that began last year.
54-year-old Armando Eligio Villarreal was extradited from Cameron County, Texas and is facing four counts of theft by extortion and four counts of conspiracy to commit a crime.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) obtained the arrest warrants on July 14, 2023.
The initial investigation alleged that Villarreal extorted a total of roughly $120,000 cash from four victims.
“Those arrest warrants were obtained and date back to July of last summer,” HCSO Spokesman Derreck Booth said. “Those crimes took place between March of 2020 and June of last year.”
The crimes were reported to HCSO between June and July of last year.
“This case actually dates back to last year and he is the second defendant in this case,” Booth said.
The other defendant? Armando’s wife, 52-year-old Olga Beatrice Villarreal.
She and Armando would act as though they were assisting victims with immigration matters, but would then allegedly extort the money by threatening their victims with deportation.
Olga was arrested last year and released on bond while Armando was at-large for more than a year.
When asked if they would be tried together or if Armando went to Texas to flee from his charges here, Booth said he did not know.
Armando is currently being held without bond after being booked on Saturday and the case remains under investigation by HCSO.
