People v. Asta

*68GARGANO, J.

Appellant was indicted by the grand jury of Sacramento County and ultimately convicted after jury trial of six counts of extortion in violation of section 518 of the Penal Code and one count of attempted extortion in violation of section 524 of the Penal Code. He appeals from the judgment of conviction.

Appellant operated a service in Sacramento County known as a fidelity shopping service which was offered to merchants in order to ascertain whether their employees were embezzling. Under this service appellant or members of his staff would make purchases at the client’s store posing…