Police: Man Threatens to Hurt Elderly Garwood Woman Unless Paid For 'Protection'

Police arrested a man on Monday for allegedly threatening to hurt an elderly Garwood woman unless she made regular payments for "protection."

Authorities arrested Edward Schram, 33, from Sayerville and charged him with second degree extortion and drug offenses, said Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow.

Schram, a suspected member of the Bloods street gang, repeatedly threatened the victim with bodily harm from fellow gang members unless payments were made, said Romankow.

Authorities believe the victim might have paid upwards of $50,000 to Schram over a five month period, said Romankow.

The victim went to the Garwood police department on Sunday morning to report the extortion and asked for help from authorities. An investigation was immediately launched by Special Prosecutions Unit of the Union County Prosecutor's Office and the Garwood Police Department, and Schram was subsequently arrested in Rahway en route to a friend's house on Monday afternoon, said Romankow.

At the time of his arrest Schram had a significant quantity of illegal drugs in his possession. He is being held at the Union County Jail on $190,000 bail.

"No one deserves to be taken advantage of," said Romankow. "This case should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to extort innocent victims and as a shot of courage for anyone who may be victimized in the same way. The authorities are here to help and no one should have to live in fear."

These criminal charges are mere accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.