National Football League

Report: Couple tried to extort Berrian

Published Jan. 28, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

A California couple attempted to extort tens of thousands of dollars from Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian after finding his lost BlackBerry, according to a civil lawsuit unsealed Thursday.

Berrian said he left his BlackBerry on top of an ATM in Las Vegas in October, but when he returned 20 minutes later to retrieve it, the device was gone. The complaint was filed Jan. 6 by Berrian, but kept sealed in federal court until Thursday, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Friday.

The case became public after the BlackBerry was returned to Berrian on Jan. 19.

According to the report, the 30-year-old veteran began receiving phone calls and emails a few months ago, asking if he had lost his BlackBerry. In response, he asked his business manager to find the people who had the BlackBerry.

The couple, Ronald Jones and Clarice Lankford, of California, demanded $30,000 to return the device after Berrian's business manager tracked them down. They threatened to sell the BlackBerry to the "highest bidder" if he did not pay up, according to the complaint.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, barring Jones and Lankford from selling or distributing in any way the contents of the BlackBerry.

In the complaint, Berrian said the BlackBerry contained personal and financial information, including his Social Security number. The device also held "other personal photographs and video of Berrian and third parties not intended for public distribution," according to the complaint.

Berrian has played seven seasons in the NFL with the Bears and Vikings. He was relegated to mostly a backup role on this year's Minnesota team, only catching 28 balls for 252 yards and no touchdowns.

Read more sports news at the Minnesota Star Tribune