UPDATE: Calif. man accused in W.Va. extortion plot pleads not gu - WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and Sports

UPDATE: Calif. man accused in W.Va. extortion plot pleads not guilty

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Vivek Shah Vivek Shah

BECKLEY -- A California man accused of trying to extort $13 million from a West Virginia coal executive entered a plea of not guilty in Beckley Tuesday.

West Hollywood resident Vivek Shah, 25, appeared Tuesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge R. Clarke VanDervort.

Shah was indicted last month on charges he threatened to kill relatives of Foresight Reserves owner Christopher Cline if Cline didn't pay up.

Court documents say Shah targeted four other wealthy but unnamed victims, including a film studio co-founder from Connecticut, two oil and gas millionaires in Texas and Florida, and the founder of an internet company in Chicago.

Federal prosecutors won't identify those victims.

Defense attorney Troy Giatras says Shah is a 25-year-old aspiring actor. His trial date has been set for Oct. 29 in Beckley.

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