Brazil authorities attempted to hold American swimmer Jimmy Feigen hostage unless he paid them $50,000.
Feigen was one of the three other swimmers with Ryan Lochte at a gas station in Rio, Brazil when an altercation with armed men occurred. Feigen, who was pulled of his flight as he tried to leave the country, eventually paid $10,800 for his freedom after being detained by Brazilian authorities.
However, the police apparently wanted much more money before releasing him. Feigen released a statement through his lawyers explaining how the payment was negotiated, and the details do not paint the police in a positive light. (RELATED: REPORT: The Authorities In Brazil Lied About Ryan Lochte’s Actions)
He wrote in part:
I was eventually given two options. Option one was to remain in Brazil while the police continued the investigation. This process was estimated to take at least a month and I would be required to remain in Brazil. Option two was pay a fine of R$100,000.00 ($31,250.00 USD) for the return of my passport and perform fifteen days of community service. I called my American attorneys to discuss what to do. We decided that this amount was unreasonable and due to safety concerns, this offer was also rejected. The prosecutor’s response was to increase the fine to R$150,000.00 ($46,875.00 USD).
Finally, all parties agreed to a R$35,000.00 ($10,800.00 USD) fine. This fine was to be paid within three days. If it was not paid, the fine would be increased back to R$150,000.00. I was able to contact my family in the United States along with my American attorneys and we were able to satisfy the payment of the fine the next day. My passport was returned to me after payment was received, and I was able to return home.
He also added that at no point did any of the American swimmers ever enter the bathroom, which they had been accused of trashing by police. (RELATED: More Proof Emerges That The Police In Brazil Lied About Ryan Lochte)
Not sure how the Brazilians will be able to spin this payment as anything other than ransom and extortion. The evidence has also quickly begun to shift towards the fact the American swimmers were not guilty of anything, and were forced to fork over money at gunpoint for urinating in the grass.