Bonvillain spoke to a Winfrey company associate in December 2006 about the alleged recordings advising he was trying to sell them to several tabloids and publishers. The associate then agreed to pay him $1.5 million, wired him $3,000 and arranged to meet him. The FBI quickly arrested Bonvillain on extortion charges. He claimed he did everything he could to avoid doing anything illegal. The case was dismissed after Bonvillain agreed to perform 50 hours of community service, undergo drug testing, and pay back the $3000.
[Associated Press: La. man sues Oprah over arrest on extortion charge(October 23, 2008)]