By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — A Smurfs entrepreneur was sentenced to five years probation on Tuesday for attempting to extort $11 million from his son-in-law, a Blackstone Group executive.
Stuart Ross, 74, had pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny in August, but shortly after the plea, he claimed his admission was entered under duress. He claimed he signed the court papers pleading guilty because he thought it was the only way he'd be let out of jail.
But Tuesday a Manhattan judge denied Ross' request to withdraw his guilty plea and ordered him to undergo alcohol treatment and to stay away from his daughter's family, including his grandchildren and the son-in-law he tried to extort, David Blitzer. He was also sentenced to five years probation.
Ross, who is credited with bringing the Smurfs to the U.S., maintained his innocence.
"My position remained that I was innocent and [the judge] knew that," Ross told reporters while leaving the courtroom.
He will appeal the decision by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Bonnie Wittner, he said Tuesday after the court appearance.
