Commonwealth v. Downey

Although the defendant raises five issues in his appeal from conviction of extortion under G. L. c. 265, § 25, the core of his defense is that extorting bribes to secure favorable action by six members of the city council of Lynn did not threaten “an injury to the . . . property of another.” G. L. c. 265, § 25. We reject this and several other arguments which the defendant has advanced.

The case was tried to a jury and, taking the facts most favorable to the Commonwealth, the jury might have found that John G. O’Connell planned in 1975 to open a restaurant at 364 Lynnway in Lynn. To that end…