North Carolina State News by Ken Fulton, Southeastern Crime and Justice Bureau Chief
North Carolina authorities have found a local news publisher guilty of attempting to blackmail a Jacksonville attorney. Gerald Jackson Jr. operated a local news website known as “The North Carolina Beat” and its associated Facebook page.
He used these online platforms to report on various local individuals, including elected officials in Onslow County.
Jackson allegedly attempted to extort $4,500 from an attorney within the community.
Jackson threatened to expose personal and embarrassing information about the attorney if they did not comply. This threat backfired when the attorney refused and instead reported Jackson’s attempted extortion to the county sheriff.
Jackson now faces a minimum 11-month sentence in prison.
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