A Gainesville man is being held in the Hall County Jail, facing charges that resulted from an extortion investigation that began last year, a press release from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office says.
Armando Eligio Villarreal, 54, was jailed on Saturday evening, Aug. 17, after his extradition from Cameron County, Texas.
Villarreal is charged with four counts each of theft by extortion and conspiracy to commit a crime, all felonies. Sheriff’s investigators obtained arrest warrants for him on July 14, 2023.
According to the initial investigation, Villarreal extorted approximately $120,000 cash from three women and one man between March 2020 and June 2023.
The crimes were reported to local authorities between June and July 2023.
Under the guise of assisting victims with immigration matters, Villarreal conspired with his wife, Olga Beatrice Villarreal, 52, to extort the money by threatening victims with deportation, according to initial details.
Olga was arrested on her charges last year and released on bond, while Armando remained at large for more than a year. He is currently being held without bond.
The case remains under investigation.
