CALIFORNIA: Gay Porn Actor Sentenced To Six Years In Prison For Extorting Telecom Tycoon

Teofil Brank, who performed in gay porn as Jarec Wentworth, has been sentenced to six years in prison for extorting $500,000 and a luxury sports car out of Florida tech tycoon Donald Burns, who went to the FBI early this year after Brank’s blackmail demands escalated. The Los Angeles Times reports:

At trial, Burns testified that he was “scared to the core” about what Brank would publicize about him, according to transcripts of the proceedings. In a bid to avoid further humiliation and end the threats, Burns wired Brank $500,000 and handed over his Audi R8, worth about $180,000, according to court papers. Brank’s demands continued, with a request for $1 million, according to court papers. Burns’ attorneys then contacted the FBI and a sting operation was set up at a Starbucks in El Segundo, court records show. An undercover agent gave Brank the title to the Audi R8 inside the coffee shop, but said the $1 million was stored in the trunk of his car, according to a sworn affidavit by an FBI agent. Outside, agents arrested the porn star and found a loaded revolver in his car, the affidavit said. While awaiting trial behind bars, Brank continued to target Burns, falsely accusing him of having sex with minors, prosecutors alleged.

While Burns has been characterized by some outlets as major GOP donor due to his support of Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, Rudy Giuliani, and other top Republicans, he has also supported the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and donated $400,000 to Florida Red & Blue, the group formed to battle 2008’s ultimately successful Amendment 2, which placed a ban on same-sex marriage into the state constitution. There’s no mention of Burns being closeted at the time of the extortion. Burns is the chairman of the internet phone company, MagicJack.