ALLEN IVERSON GETTING EXTORTED?

Hampton man accused of trying to extort money from Allen Iverson

By Patrick WilsonThe Virginian-Pilot© March 25, 2008
VIRGINIA BEACH

A Hampton man has been charged with trying to extort money from NBA star Allen Iverson, police said Monday.

Hampton police arrested Andre Steele on Saturday in Hampton, said Detective John Allen of the Virginia Beach police. He was released from the Hampton jail on Monday, a jail spokesman said.

Virginia Beach police began investigating Steele after getting a complaint from Iverson, who is from Hampton.

Steele and Iverson previously have been described as longtime friends. In a 1998 incident, Steele was in Iverson's car when he was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. Iverson was not implicated.

Steele's age and address were not available.

A grand jury in Virginia Beach indicted Steele on March 3 on one count of attempted extortion, Allen said.

"He and Iverson had been acquaintances for some time, and he attempted to extort an undisclosed amount of money from him," Allen said. "He was never able to obtain any type of money or goods from him."

Detectives did not release more details and are continuing to investigate.
Iverson attended Bethel High School in Hampton. He has played professional basketball for 11 years, currently for the Denver Nuggets.

Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com