Veteran Burbank Police Officer Accused In Extortion Scheme

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Burbank police officer has been freed on bond after being charged with lying to the FBI during an investigation of a suspected extortion scheme involving his girlfriend and her estranged husband.

Anthony Valento made his first court appearance Wednesday where he was released on $25,000 bond. Valento is accused of telling FBI agents he wasn't dating Gayle Bassett who was an alleged victim of restraining order violations in which Valento was the reporting officer.

Authorities say Valento allegedly told Bassett's husband that if he paid her more than $100,000, Valento could get pending domestic violence charges against him either reduced or dropped.

Valento has been with the Burbank Police Department for 17 years.

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