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DELAND, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office says deputies arrested a man Monday for trying to blackmail a Deland City Commissioner.
Investigators say Commissioner Jeff Hunter was already out thousands of dollars when he was told to hand over even more.
“To his credit, he knew that some of the details would be salacious and embarrassing and he said, ‘I don’t care – I have to protect my family, what these people are doing is wrong. If it’s not me, who’s the next person,’” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Deputies say it all started when the commissioner, who’s not married, got into a relationship with a 24-year-old woman. An arrest report says Hunter gave her $15,000 for medical treatment he believes she never actually received.
“Calls her on it, all of a sudden he’s informed she’s dead,” said Chitwood. “He does a little research and discovers she’s not dead, she’s a guest at the Volusia County branch jail.”
Deputies say after Hunter confronted the woman, 24-year-old Jose Santiago came into the picture. They say he’s the woman’s on-again, off-again boyfriend.
Investigators say Santiago threatened Hunter and his family, and asked for even more money.
“The other allegation is that they were going to say that he raped her,” Chitwood explained. “And that’s how they were going to get all of this to come about if he didn’t pay him.”
According to deputies, Santiago sent a text in August saying: “If u listen to me and pay me what I want u won’t go to prison. 20 grand it all goes away.”
Deputies say Santiago is now the one behind bars on an extortion charge. They say he was arrested after trying to meet Hunter to collect the cash on Monday.
Hunter declined an on camera interview but says if he gets the $15,000 back, he plans to give it to charity or other possible victims.
“He’s a strong man. He knows that his priority is the citizens of Deland. That’s the only thing he’s focused on at this point,” Jason Harr, Hunter’s attorney said.
Deputies say the woman involved in this case has not been arrested but the investigation is far from over.