news|extortion charges for Justice man

Justice resident Omar Abbas, 40, was charged earlier this week with extortion for posing as a law enforcement official and preying on members of the immigrant community. Abbas was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with the felony offense. According to the complaint Abbas portrayed himself as an FBI Special Agent, and/or U.S. Military Official, offering to help immigrants with their immigration or legal problems in exchange for a fee. Abbas, a Jordanian national, is alleged to have received over $25,000 since 2003. Chicago FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Robert D. Grant said that there is a possibility that there were others who might have fallen victim to Abbas and his alleged scheme. Grant said that he’d “encourage anyone, regardless of their immigration status, who might also have been victimized by Abbas to contact our office immediately.” Abbas was ordered held on $100,000 bond and faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison.