SAN ANTONIO – A woman is behind bars after she allegedly extorted more than $600 from an elderly man by making up an elaborate story about how she owed her drug dealer money.
Meredith Maze, 41, told a 67-year-old man she owed her drug dealer hundreds of dollars and that if she didn't pay, she would be harmed and forced to pay off her debts through prostitution, an affidavit said.
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The victim told police it began on Dec. 16 when Maze began calling and texting the elderly man saying she would be harmed if she didn't pay her drug dealer $300. The victim left the $300 on Maze's porch.
Then, on Dec. 21, the victim said Maze texted him again saying she needed an additional $385 or she would be harmed. The victim said he left money on her porch again.
Finally, on Dec. 23, the victim said Maze called him and texted him saying she needed even more money or she would be harmed. This time, the victim said he received a partially nude photo of Maze along with a message that said she would be forced to work of her debts as a prostitute and would be harmed if she didn't pay up.
Fearing for Maze, the man contacted police. The victim told Maze he would leave the money on his porch and that she could pick up the money.
An affidavit said officers staked out the victim's home to see who would come for the money. Maze showed up at the victim's house with her drug dealer and police took her into custody.
During an interview with authorities, Maze said she was never threatened or harmed by anyone in the last 10 days and was not being trafficked.
Investigators said text messages between Maze and her drug dealer showed that she would buy drugs "as soon as she received money from the victim."
She is charged with theft between $100 and $750 against an elderly man.