Guy Admits to Extorting the PPA, Didn’t Know What Extortion Means

The PPA Extortionist is the hero Philly deserves, but not the one it needs, right now. All kidding aside, Rocco Martinez faces up to two years in prison after he admitted in court that he attempted to extort money from the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Martinez contacted the PPA after he videotaped a PPA officer offer to fix tickets in exchange for bootleg DVDs. He used his personal email to ask for $500 to keep the tape to himself. Martinez says that he thought he was exposing a corrupt officer and was entitled to a reward. Now, though, he says that he understands what he did wrong. [Inquirer]