His case was heard in U.S. federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Tiner admitted that he extorted more than $2 million from two local businessmen, one from Belleville, Illinois, and the other from Florissant, Missouri, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Illinois.
In addition to the 10-year prison sentence, the court ordered Tiner to serve a three-year period of supervised release following his prison sentence, the release. The court also ordered Tiner to pay a total of $2,241,500 in restitution for his extortion offenses, and $158,212.16 in restitution for his healthcare fraud conviction.
Tiner initially borrowed money from the Florissant businessman, according to the release. When the Florissant man asked for his money back, Tiner told him that he would conduct a large illegal drug transaction to get the funds to repay the loans. Tiner then asked the Florissant man for more money in order to finance this illegal drug deal. When the Florissant man refused to provide any more money to him, Tiner made several vicious threats.
Tiner also admitted that he laundered the proceeds of his fraud and extortion scheme by running those funds through Holt’s bank accounts. The financial transaction conviction stemmed from Tiner’s use of those fraudulently obtained funds to make several large purchases, the release states, including a residence located on Knollhaven Trail in O’Fallon, a residential lot on Pausch Road in O’Fallon, and a 2019 Cadillac Escalade.
“Tiner’s extortion and fraud scheme had a severe impact on his victims, both financially and psychologically,” a U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson remarked. “On top of that, he stole money from a taxpayer-funded program designed to help disabled persons. His serious crimes warrant the lengthy prison sentence that the court imposed.”
As part of his plea agreement, Tiner agreed to forfeit this property to the United States so that it can be sold and used to pay restitution.
Tiner’s wife, Matissia Holt, also was charged and pled guilty to healthcare fraud and money laundering charges. She was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution, Oct. 31.
