A Crosbyton man, Shannon Dale Smith, 46, pleaded guilty Wednesday to an extortion charge. Smith’s case made state and national news because an FBI agent, Michael Orndorff, was accidentally shot by a Texas DPS officer during Smith’s arrest.
Orndorff was critically injured, but later recovered. Smith was not charged for anything related to Orndorff’s injuries.
Smith admitted that he demanded $525,000 from Nathan Boardman, also of Crosbyton, under the threat of kidnapping Boardman, his wife, his daughters or his granddaughters.
Smith admits he both called Boardman and left a threatening note at Boardman’s front door.
It said in part, “We have a man watching your daughter. We have a man watching your granddaughter. We have a man watching you and your wife.”
“If you choose not to participate, someone will be taken from you,” the note also said.
The phone calls Smith made to Boardman were considered an interstate communication (which makes it a federal case) because they were routed through TracFone in Miami, Florida.
Law enforcement worked with Boardman to create a fake money drop on the night of October 29. Smith admits he showed up a few miles south of Crosbyton with his son to get a duffel bag that appeared to be filled with money. Sources said there was no money in the bag.
Smith will be sentenced at a later date to no more than 20 years in prison.
