Chappaqua Couple Arrested in Alleged Multi-Million-Dollar Harrison Extortion

A Chappaqua couple faces felony charges after authorities say they extorted millions of dollars in a complex larceny-by-extortion scheme involving lies about CIA connections, reconnaissance missions to Honduras and Polish priests attempting to infiltrate the U.S. government.

Vickram Bedi, 36, and his girlfriend Helga Ingvarsdottir, 39, both Chappaqua residents, were arrested Thursday while preparing to leave the country, authorities announced Monday. The couple extorted money from a single victim for six years—from August 2004 to October 2010—through Datalink Computers, their computer service business in Mt. Kisco, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's office.

Harrison police estimate the total at $20 million; the Westchester County District Attorney's office estimates $6 million.

The victim, who is not being named specifically, is noted, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's office, as "the great-grandson and great grand-nephew of the two brothers who founded Schlumberger Ltd.," which is an oilfield services company. He is also described as a "noted pianist and composer."

The couple came into contact with the victim in 2004, after the victim developed a virus on his computer. Fearing that all of his documents and music, which were stored on the computer, would be lost the victim brought his computer to the couple's business for repairs, authorities say.

At that point authorities say that Bedi and Ingvarsdottir worked together to concoct a scheme to extort the money.  

Authorities say Bedi told the victim that his computer had been specifically targeted and that he and his family were in grave danger. Bedi allegedly explained that he had the money, contacts and overall resources to track down the source of the virus if the victim cooperated. Bedi used the story to convince the victim to not only pay for computer retrieval equipment, but for protection from the fictional group as well, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's office.

In a string of far-fetched lies, Bedi used fear tactics to convince the victim to make monthly payments to Datalink, authorities say.

During the six-year period Bedi convinced the victim that he had traced the source of the virus to a hard drive in a remote area of Honduras, according to a press release. Authorities believe Bedi told the victim that he had sent his uncle—who Bedi claimed was an operative in the Indian Military—on a successful reconnaissance mission to retrieve the drive.

Bedi further claimed that his uncle obtained classified information that Polish priests affiliated with Opus Dei were attempting to possibly harm the victim. Bedi also told the victim that the Central Intelligence Agency had subcontracted him to prevent attempts by those Polish priests to infiltrate the United States government, all according to a press release from the Westchester County District Attorney's office.

"As is charged in the complaint, these two defendants preyed upon, duped and exploited the fears of this victim with cold calculation and callousness," District Attorney Janet DiFiore said in a media release. "The systematic method with which they continued the larceny over a period of more than six years is nothing short of heartless."

Search warrants were executed at the couple's home at 38 Hollow Oak Rd. in Chappaqua as well as Datalink Computers at 165 Main St. in Mt. Kisco, Harrison Police said Monday.

Police say they seized more than $150,000 in cash, vehicles and jewelry during the search. They also froze Bedi and Ingvarsdottir's bank accounts and seized numerous properties owned by the couple. 

Working with District Attorney's Organized Crime Unit, Mt. Kisco police and New Castle police, Harrison police said that they had been investigating the case since late August when they received a suspicious incident report originating in Purchase.

The couple was arraigned in Mt. Kisco court and is being held in Westchester County Jail on $3 million bail. They have surrendered their passports and temporary orders of protection for the victim have been awarded, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's office.

The couple are each charged with first degree grand larceny—a class B felony. If convicted both face eight to 25 years in prison.

Helga Ingvarsdottir is the daughter of Ingvar Karlsson, a wealthy businessman in Iceland, police said. The victim is not being specifically identified at this time as the investigation continues. Harrison police also said that more arrests are possible.

Ingvarsdottir and Bedi are due in Mt. Kisco court Dec. 2.