:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-cmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4MZFQPSVZEFLMAM5FDPKSXC6PA.jpg)
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — An investigator said a woman swindled out of $18,000 became so paranoid someone was going to attack her that she didn't even want to be interviewed in a room with windows.
A judge ordered Mike Phillips to serve five years in prison for blackmail after he pleaded guilty Tuesday in Orangeburg County.
The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg report that authorities determined Phillips convinced the woman she could get custody of her daughter during a divorce if she hired a private investigator.
Prosecutors said Phillips created a character named "Trell" who demanded money from the victim and even pretended to hold a gun against her head.
Police began investigating after the woman told workers at a mental hospital why she cut both her arms.
Phillips apologized before he was sentenced.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Charlotte woman, boyfriend murdered while traveling in Canada
- Former employee charged with embezzling $200K+ from Charlotte nonprofit
- CMS superintendent out: Clayton Wilcox will resign after two years on job
- FORECAST: Heat advisory in effect for Charlotte region
- Why this brewery put its South End building on the market
Associated Press
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XW55KSO4PJFFZDUZ2UTHN47CUM.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2TFZTCNBXJD5XFTE7N7ZEGQ67Q.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/ALYFZKHSS5CAXGDAQEZOLACXEA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/INIPJDENXRDZJDZJH25FT7D76U.png)
