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Agents: Man tried to extort $100K from race car driver over alleged sex video

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County man was arrested on charges of extortion after police said he tried to force a wealthy race car driver to pay $100,000 to keep their night together a secret.

Investigators said Terrill Lewis, 25, of Titusville, tried to blackmail the victim by threatening to release compromising video and pictures of their night in a California hotel to both the victim's family and business associates.

The victim, a race car driver and a prominent New Orleans attorney, whose name hasn't been released because he's the victim of a sex crime, was staying at a hotel in Los Angeles in August and met Lewis on an escort website.

Lewis went by the name Dream.

The arrest papers said the two drank wine and spent the night together. A couple of weeks later, Lewis began sending text messages to the businessman, telling him he'd release the video of their sexual encounter if he was not paid.

The victim had already handed over $4,000 to keep Lewis quiet, according to documents, but Lewis later demanded more money.

Arrest papers said Lewis texted the attorney a scathing message saying, "You better answer me or it is going to be a bad day for you."

Investigators said Lewis and the attorney agreed to meet at the Mall at Millenia to exchange the money. The victim alerted authorities. 

Agents with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation were waiting and arrested Lewis.

Lewis was booked into the Orange County Jail on Tuesday.  He's being held without bail on two out-of-county warrants.

Lewis' neighbors were shocked to learn he worked as a male escort in Los Angeles in August.

"It's crazy to know people live around here and do stuff like that. It's crazy," said Lewis' neighbor Latoya Smith.

"Who knows what people do these days? I guess trying to make a living or whatever," said Driella Smith.

WFTV learned Lewis had been arrested for similar crimes in the past. He has been arrested 32 times since 2005.

WFTV called police in Los Angeles to find out if a report for sexual battery was filed, but there was no record.