Blackmail

Eagan man sentenced in blackmail plot; Eric Leroy Syverson sent threatening letters to 22 teachers, coaches
BY KATIE MINTZ
SUN NEWSPAPERS
(Created: Saturday, January 3, 2009 10:34 AM CST)

A 39-year-old Eagan man charged for attempting to blackmail 22 teachers and coaches from area schools was sentenced Friday, Jan. 2, in Dakota County District Court.
Judge Katherine Messerich ordered Eric Leroy Syverson to spend 180 days in jail, five years probation and a pay $300 fine. Syverson was also sentenced to write letters of apology to the victims and complete a psychological and cognitive skills evaluation. He pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy to commit coercion, a felony. According to a Dakota County District Court complaint, on April 16, 2008, Syverson taped letters to the residences of 22 male teachers and coaches in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District and the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. The letters threatened to ruin the men's careers unless they delivered $1,000 cash to a Dakota County park April 18. The perpetrator, who claimed to be a fellow staff member and former police officer, said if the money was not produced he would cause DVDs of adult and child pornography to be found with information to falsely link them to the teacher or coach. Each letter also suggested that a female student might come forward and falsely claim that the teacher or coach was making inappropriate sexual advances, or that a male student might falsely claim that the teacher or coach offered him money for naked pictures.