Guilty Plea Entered in Extortion of Doctor
A former Harvard University student pleaded guilty to attempted extortion Wednesday for demanding $10,000 in hush money from an AIDS-infected doctor. John Michael Fountain entered his plea at a pretrial conference in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Under the terms of the plea bargain, he faces a maximum 16-month prison term. A second count of sending a threatening letter for extortion is expected to be dismissed at his Jan. 9 sentencing, prosecutors said.
The 21-year-old West Hollywood resident had been working part-time for an accounting firm that reportedly has several clients who are believed to have tested HIV-positive, authorities said. Using that confidential information, Fountain mailed the doctor a “ransom” note that contained a newspaper article about legislation to impose fines and incarcerate physicians who carry the AIDS virus.
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