An Alexandria man is accused of threatening to bomb a pay-day loan business unless he got $10,000.
Daniel Dewayne Aikens, 37, was charged in federal court with extortion. He was arrested last week during a traffic stop. He'll remain in jail until his detention hearing set for later this month. Aikens was discharged from his position as a commissioned officer in the Louisiana National Guard shortly after his arrest.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Aikens contacted an employee of PayDay Today demanding $10,000 in cash. He initially spoke to the employee about a set of lost keys. While the employee was in the parking lot looking for the keys, a device exploded in a trash can near the building. The affidavit states Aikens told the employee that he caused the explosion and demanded $10,000 in cash.
“The defendant is charged with trying to extort money from his victims by using an explosive device,” said U.S. Attorney David Joseph. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners take the unlawful use of explosive devices very seriously due to the terrible damage they can inflict. I want to thank the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshal’s Service, as well as our state and local partners, for their immediate response to the scene as well as their seamless coordination to secure the safety of the citizens of Alexandria.”
If convicted on the extortion charge, Aikens faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Alexandria Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Louisiana State Police, and the Alexandria Fire Department investigated the case, with the assistance of the Alexandria Public Safety Commissioner and the City of Alexandria Mayor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog is prosecuting the case.
