MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — A New Jersey man who was fired by the Lucille Roberts fitness chain sent a barrage of threats, demands and creepy messages to the late workout pioneer's family at their Upper East Side mansion, prosecutors said Friday.
David Allen, 38, faxed the family notes demanding what he believed was an amount owed to him in the six-figure range, Assistant District Attorney Jordan Arnold said at Allen's arraignment Friday.
"The defendant was let go in December, and in January he decided he felt he was entitled to a six-figure commission and severance," Arnold said.
When he did not receive the dough, "he engaged in a campaign of threats and harassment," Arnold added.
Allen also splashed paint on the outside of the family's tony townhouse, located just a block from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and shot "projectiles" through the windows of the home, prosecutors said.
"Don't f--- with me," one note read, according to the criminal complaint. Another note came in the form of an eerie list: "1. Paint 2. Glass 3. Bleach 4. Bullet in the leg, jail," the complaint said.
He also sent an envelope filled with white powder to the family, who immediately called the authorities because they feared it was toxic, which it was not, prosecutors said.
Allen is charged with attempted grand larceny, attempted coercion, placing a false bomb or hazardous substance, and criminal mischief.
The Roberts mansion, which was used as a residence by her family and office space for the fitness chain, was priced at $90 million on one online listing last year.
A judge issued orders of protection barring Allen from contacting Roberts' husband, Bob, and her two sons, Kirk and Kevin.
Prosecutors said he has an arrest record in New Jersey and New York.
Bail for Allen was set at $75,000 bond or $25,000 cash for Allen.
Allen's attorney, Andrew Roth, said he voluntarily surrendered to police yesterday and was not a flight risk.
