Ex-L.A. Officers and Military Personnel Charged in Alleged Sham Raid to Extort $37M from O.C. Businessman

LOS ANGELES, CA – Four former law enforcement and military officers are facing serious federal charges following their alleged involvement in a sham raid aimed at extorting a man in Irvine, California. The four individuals, including two former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, have been charged with conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, conspiracy against rights, and deprivation of rights under color of law. The charges stem from an incident in 2019 where the defendants are accused of forcibly entering the victim’s home under the guise of a legitimate law enforcement operation.

Details of the Alleged Incident

The indictment, filed on August 1, 2024, alleges that the defendants acted as a fake law enforcement team to intimidate the Irvine resident, identified as “Victim 1,” into surrendering nearly $37 million and signing over his rights in a lucrative business venture. The alleged mastermind behind the operation was a wealthy Chinese national, referred to as the “unindicted co-conspirator,” who had a longstanding business dispute with the victim.

The defendants charged in the case include:

• Steven Arthur Lankford, 68, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy from Canyon Country who owns a process service company in Santa Clarita.
• Glen Louis Cozart, 63, a former LASD deputy from Upland who runs a private investigation and security services company in San Bernardino County.
• Max Samuel Bennett Turbett, 39, a United Kingdom citizen and former member of the British military who operates a private investigation and asset recovery business in Australia.
• Matthew Phillip Hart, 41, an Australian citizen and former member of the Australian military who owns a risk management services business in Australia.

According to the indictment, the incident occurred on June 17, 2019, when Lankford, Cozart, Hart, and Turbett allegedly entered Victim 1’s home in Irvine. Lankford, who was still employed by the LASD at the time, used his official position to search for information on the victim through law enforcement databases. The defendants allegedly drove to the victim’s house in an unmarked LASD vehicle, where Lankford identified himself as a police officer and Cozart falsely claimed to be an immigration officer.

Once inside, the defendants reportedly forced the victim, his wife, and their two children into a single room, where they were held for several hours. During this time, the victim was physically assaulted, including being slammed against a wall and choked, and threatened with deportation unless he complied with their demands. Under duress, the victim signed documents relinquishing his multimillion-dollar interest in a Chinese rubber chemical manufacturing company.

Charges Filed Against the Defendants

The four men have been charged with multiple serious offenses, including:

• Conspiracy to Commit Extortion (18 U.S.C. § 1951): The defendants are accused of conspiring to extort nearly $37 million from the victim. This charge stems from their alleged coordinated plan to intimidate and coerce the victim into surrendering his financial assets and business rights, all orchestrated under the guise of a legitimate law enforcement operation. If convicted, this charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
• Attempted Extortion (18 U.S.C. § 1951): In addition to the conspiracy charge, the defendants face a count of attempted extortion because they allegedly made a direct attempt to force the victim to hand over his assets. This attempt involved the actual execution of the sham raid, during which they threatened the victim and his family with violence and deportation unless their demands were met. This charge also carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
• Conspiracy Against Rights (18 U.S.C. § 241): The defendants are charged with conspiring to violate the victim’s civil rights due to their alleged plan to unlawfully detain and threaten the victim and his family in their own home. This charge is linked to their use of intimidation tactics to deprive the victim of his legal rights, including his right to personal security and property. A conviction could result in a 10-year prison sentence.
• Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law (18 U.S.C. § 242): This charge relates to the defendants’ alleged abuse of their authority as former law enforcement officers. By pretending to act under official capacity, they are accused of depriving the victim of his rights, such as freedom from unlawful search and seizure, and protection from coercion. The alleged misuse of their former positions to carry out this raid under false pretenses is a serious violation that also carries a potential 10-year sentence.

The four defendants were arraigned on August 12, 2024, in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles, where each pleaded not guilty to the charges. If found guilty, they could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each extortion-related count and up to 10 years for each charge related to the deprivation of rights.

A trial date has not yet been set, and the legal process will continue as the court reviews and determines the outcome of these serious allegations. It’s important to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.