MIAMI, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) – A former Miami police officer and an accomplice were charged in connection with a money extortion case, prosecutors said Friday.

Richard Anastasi, 47, a former Miami Beach police officer, and Francisco Arias, 42, abducted an individual and threatened to harm him if he did not pay them $100,000. The charged men later claimed that Anastasi had been the victim of identity theft and credit card fraud, and that they were trying to recover the money that had been stolen from Anastasi.

On March 11, Anastasi and Arias confronted the victim for the first time, forcing him into a vehicle being driven by Anastasi. They began punching him, before Anastasi gave Arias a knife, instructing him to cut off the victim’s testicles.

Arias later drove the victim in a black suburban to a residence in Miami, where Arias retrieved a semi-automatic rifle with a laser sight from the black suburban, and simulated shooting the victim at least two times, once while the victim was forced down to his knees.

After the victim assured Anastasi and Arias that he could obtain money for them, the victim was taken to a Western Union to retrieve a wire transfer then back to his apartment, releasing him, under instructions to meet the defendants the following day.

Impersonating police officers, Anastasi and Arias, arrived at the victim’s apartment on Monday, March 15. They immediately struck him, and Arias choked the victim into unconsciousness twice. He was then forced again into a black Suburban, where Arias took out a pair of pliers, threatening to pull out the victim’s teeth, one at a time. They finally tasered the victim before returning him to his home so that he could obtain money for them.

Law enforcement was notified about the case on March 16. Officials then recorded telephone calls, in which the victim negotiated additional time to produce the money Anastasi and Arias were demanding. The FBI arrested both men on March 18, 2010 on the way to the designated meeting time and place, where the victim was to provide the additional funds.

Anastasi and Arias were charged for taking a hostage for the purpose of obtaining a ransom, and if convicted of this charge, each will be facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.