The former demolition chief for the East St. Louis Tax Increment Finance Department was charged on Monday with trying to blackmail an unidentified professional athlete for $150,000.

George "Jack" Edwards, 48, was charged with one count of extortion in federal court in St. Louis. The criminal complaint was released Tuesday.

Edwards contacted the athlete, identified in the criminal complaint only as "P.A.", after he met Edwards' daughter, Laura Lynn Edwards, on Sept. 29.

Edwards told P.A. that Laura Edwards was pregnant, the affidavit stated.
The athlete's agent later contacted George Edwards and agreed to pay $25,000 if the woman took a paternity test with the further understanding that if the child was that of the athlete, he would pay an additional $125,000.

Extortion is punishable by 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.