Bail Reduced for Swampscott Man Accused of Medford Beatings, Extortion

A Swampscott man accused of beating, threatening and attempting to extort workers at a Medford construction company's office last Tuesday had his bail reduced Monday.

James Morando, 52 was arrested Thursday on 14 charges stemming from the incident and arraigned in Somerville District Court Friday, where he was ordered held without bail until a second hearing Monday morning.

Somerville District Court Judge Maurice Flynn set bail for Morando at $15,000 cash, $150,000 surety on Monday, with conditions that he stay away from the alleged victims and wear a GPS tracker, according to court records.

Witnesses who work at NEQ construction's office at 427 Riverside Ave. told police that Morando and two other men entered the business Tuesday at about 5:30 p.m., shoved a man aside who tried to greet them, then beat two other men who worked there and demanded $10,000 in "commission fees."

Morando, the owner of a demolition company also allegedly threatened to kill one of their children if they went to police. One of his associates held a pen to one of the eye of an alleged victim and demanded he sign paperwork, witnesses told police. The alleged victims had a previous working relationship with Morando, according to police reports.

But Morando told investigators a different story. In a brief statement to police after his arrest, Morando said he went to the office to collect money owed to him for work he performed as a subcontractor and one of the workers immediately pulled a handgun on him. Everything "went haywire" after that, according to his statement.

The other two suspects are named in police reports, but their names are being withheld by Patch because they have not been arrested and it is unclear whether they face charges.

The charges against Morando include: Three counts of extortion, three counts of kidnapping, three counts of threat to commit a crime, two counts of extortion, two counts of assault and battery and one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

He is slated to appear in court next on Aug. 15 for a probable cause hearing.

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