Former State Trooper from Belmont Convicted of Extortion

A federal jury has found former Massachusetts State Police Trooper John Analetto, a Belmont resident, guilty of extortion of a gambler, according to Boston Globe. 

Analetto, 20-year veteran of the State Police, was suspended without pay after his Dec. 31, 2011 arrest on suspicion of extortion and threatening to kill a local bookie. Analetto threatened a gambler who owed their bookie, Robert Russo, money, according to the Globe. 

However, the jury was hung on a second extortion charge, according to the Globe. Judge George A. O'Toole Jr. declared a mistrial for that charge. Analetto's attorney, Daniel W. O'Malley would not say whether his client would be tried again for the charge. He said prosecutors would make that decision.

The case centered around the bookie, Robert Russo, on whom the second charge was based. Analetto also threatened Russo after Russo could not keep up with payments for a $24,000 loan from Analetto. 

The jury began deliberations on Thursday, May 16. Analetto’s trial began on Monday, May 13, according to the Boston Globe.

Prosecutors told jurors that Analetto, 49, “violated the trust of his badge,” when he was recorded threatening to kill bookmaker Robert Russo, according to the Globe. Analetto’s attorney told the jury his client’s words were “locker room” type chat between two men who been drinking heavily. O’Malley, told the jury Russo had set his client up.