Crosbyton Man Pleads Guilty on Extortion Charge

On Wednesday, the Crosbyton man accused of demanding $525,000 and leaving threatening messages to Nathan Boardman pleaded guilty to an extortion charge.

Shannon Dale Smith admitted to demanding the money under the threat of kidnapping Boardman’s wife, daughters or his granddaughters.

Smith also admitted to calling Boardman and leaving a threatening note on his front door.

An excerpt from said threatening note is as follows:

“We have a man watching your daughter.  We have a man watching your granddaughter.  We have a man watching you and your wife. If you choose not to participate, someone will be taken from you.”

Since the suspect's phone conversations with Boardman were routed through TracFone in Miami, FL, police are calling it interstate communication, making this a federal case.

Smith will be sentenced at a later date to no more than 20 years in prison.