For almost two years, a pair of Mission seniors feared for their lives. 

With threats of gang violence against their family, 69-year-old Judy Lehmann and her 79-year-old husband Bernie paid roughly $300,000 to avoid the potential repercussions. 

But after bringing the problem to Mission RCMP, the couple discovered they were conned by a family friend. 

91裸聊视频淚t was awful. Just awful,91裸聊视频� Judy said.

Tyler James Willard pleaded guilty to criminal extortion charges in connection to the scam and was sentenced to nine months of house arrest in December.  The house arrest is followed by approximately 15 months of probation and $260,000 in restitution to the victims.

Willard was a childhood friend of one of Lehmann91裸聊视频檚 close family members, who requested anonymity. 

91裸聊视频淚 loved him. He was [like] a nephew. We took him on holidays with us,91裸聊视频� Judy said. 

The Lehmanns own a business in Silverdale, which they suspect made them a target for Willard. 

91裸聊视频淗e wanted to live the lifestyle,91裸聊视频� Bernie said. 

The long-running extortion began In late 2019 when Willard targeted his childhood friend.

The Lehmann family member was told he was one of the final phone calls for an Abbotsford man who died of an overdose supposedly owing $60,000 to a gang. 

Willard, who feigned gang connections, told his friend that recent contacts on the overdose victim91裸聊视频檚 phone were culpable for the debt. 

91裸聊视频淚t was very, very believable. And the mindset to come up with a story like he did ... it was just awful,91裸聊视频� Judy said. 

She went on to say: 91裸聊视频淲hatever money [our family member] had, he gave to Tyler. And then Tyler [would say] the gang now needs X number of dollars. We got home from a holiday and [the family member] said if we do not pay, our lives were going to be in jeopardy,91裸聊视频� Judy said. 

She said this was just the beginning.

In addition to Willard, Judy says91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� an extra man posing as a gang member threatened over the phone that 91裸聊视频渟omething dire91裸聊视频� would happen if they didn91裸聊视频檛 pay. Calls from Willard requesting money became a frequent occurrence for the Lehmanns. 

91裸聊视频淲e would get a phone call on a Friday [saying] 91裸聊视频業 need $10,000 by Sunday91裸聊视频�. And I  would go into our bank account, take the money and it just went on and on and on,91裸聊视频� Judy said. 

For the first year, Judy avoided telling her husband to protect him. 

91裸聊视频淚t almost broke our marriage,91裸聊视频� she said.

The looming threat of violence terrified the Lehmanns.  They locked the doors, covered windows with black curtains, and Bernie kept a bedside bat. 

91裸聊视频淲e were living under curfew, basically. I have never been as scared in my life,91裸聊视频� Judy said. 

A request from Willard for $30,000 with a quick turnaround was enough for Judy to go to the police. 

Previous threats implied the 91裸聊视频済ang91裸聊视频� had connections in the RCMP. However, Judy contacted a friend whose daughter is a Mountie. She told the Lehmanns she 91裸聊视频渨ould bet her life91裸聊视频� it was safe to take the problem to Mission RCMP. 

The local detachment told the Lehmanns the gang in question wouldn91裸聊视频檛 go after seniors unless they were owed money. 

91裸聊视频淚t didn91裸聊视频檛 stop until we finally went to the police. And then we find out that ultimately it was just a con job. And it was a good con job because it scared the shit out of both of us,91裸聊视频� Bernie said. 

The Lehmanns don91裸聊视频檛 expect to receive the court-ordered $260,000 in restitution from Willard.  

91裸聊视频淗ow do you go after them? You have to continuously chase them for a few bucks here and there? It becomes more grief after a while than it91裸聊视频檚 worth,91裸聊视频� Bernie said. 

Since the money was taken from their business to pay Willard, the Lehmanns also had to declare it as income. In addition to the approximate $300,000 lost in the extortion, the Lehmanns are facing a $94,000 bill from the CRA and a reduction to their old-age pension. 

They are planning to appeal the charge with the CRA. 

However, with Willard sentenced, Judy said she is ready to move on.

She and Bernie praised Mission RCMP, victim services, and Crown counsel Jim Barbour for their handling of the case while advising others who have been extorted or scammed to contact police. 

91裸聊视频淒on91裸聊视频檛 be scared. Go and see your local police 91裸聊视频� they're the people who are there to help you,91裸聊视频� Judy said.