Babysitter’s Jealous Boyfriend Extorted Cash from Land O’ Lakes Man, Deputies Say

LAND O’ LAKES, FL — A Temple Terrace man faces extortion charges after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say he took jealousy just a little too far. The 19-year-old is accused of threatening to harm his perceived rival’s spouse and child if $1,000 in cash wasn’t paid.

According to the sheriff’s office, the string of events that led up to Benjamin David Berggren’s arrest began when he looked at text messages sent to his juvenile girlfriend from a man whose child she babysits. Those messages, an arrest report states, led Berggren to misconstrue “an improper relationship.”

It’s what happened after Berggren read the text messages that landed him behind bars, the report noted. He’s accused of calling the victim “numerous times, exceeding seven times, leaving him messages threatening to harm the victim’s spouse and child.” The voice mail messages indicated that Berggren knew where the victim lived and worked, the report said.

On Dec. 4, the victim received a message asking for $1,000 cash to be paid in two installments. If the money was paid, Berggren allegedly said he would keep quiet about the victim “flirting with a minor.”

The victim reportedly left that first $500 payment in his mailbox, but took pictures of Berggren pulling up in a Mini Cooper to retrieve the cash. The victim then called his lawyer, who contacted the sheriff’s office.

A second pickup date was set for Dec. 5, but this time Pasco deputies were waiting. The second time around, a co-defendant, Brian Turpin, 19, reportedly collected the cash while Berggren waited in the Mini Cooper.

Following arrest, Berggren told deputies the victim had offered the money to help with his girlfriend’s college fund, the report said. He denied threatening the victim even after being told about the picture and messages, the report added.

Berggren’s arrest was announced Tuesday.

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